title: Accuracy of modern ultrasonographic techniques in the follow up of patients with superficial bladder carcinoma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The present study was carried out to establish the accuracy of modern ultrasonographic techniques in the follow up of patients with superficial bladder carcinoma and to evaluate the patients tolerability of cystoscopy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-three patients with a history of superficial bladder carcinoma under active surveillance were initially examined using transabdominal ultrasound followed in the same day by cystoscopy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fourteen out of the 33 subjects were found to have bladder carcinoma recurrence on cystoscopy. In 11 cases (78.57%) US accurately diagnosed the bladder carcinoma. Two out of the 3 patients in which, the US examination failed to clearly diagnose bladder carcinoma, were found with a tumor smaller than 3 mm while, in the remaining patient the tumor was located in the inner part of a diverticula. The sensitivity of modern ultrasonographic techniques in the diagnosis of bladder cancer recurrence was 78.5%, the specificity 100%, the positive predictive value 100% and the negative predictive value 86.3%. Regarding the patient tolerability for cystoscopy, 17 patients (51.5%) reported excessive discomfort-low tolerability, 9 (27.2%) moderate discomfort-intermediate tolerability and 7 (21.2%) reported no discomfort-high tolerability.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The technological evolution has rendered ultrasonography more accurate in the diagnosis of bladder carcinoma and thus it can be incorporated in the follow up schedule of patients with superficial bladder carcinoma.
authors.affiliation: Urology Department, Tzaneion General Hospital, Pireas, Greece. stamatiouk@gmail.com
authors.forename: Konstantinos
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Stamatiou
authors.forename: Hippocrates
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Moschouris
authors.forename: Marina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Papadaki
authors.forename: Georgios
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Perlepes
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Skolarikos
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D003558:Cystoscopy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014463:Ultrasonography; D001749:Urinary Bladder Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology