Virtual cystoscopy (pneumo-cystoscopy)-Its utility in the prospective evaluation of bladder tumor.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the role of virtual cystoscopy (VC) comparing it with cystopanendoscopy (CPE) for detecting bladder tumor(s).


METHODS
Ethical clearance was obtained from the Institutional ethics committee. After an informed consent 30 patients fulfilling the inclusion criteria were enrolled in the prospective non-randomized clinical study and were evaluated as per protocol with VC performed by a qualified radiologist who was blinded to the findings of CPE performed by a qualified urologist. The results so obtained were analyzed using appropriate statistical tools.


RESULTS
The mean age of the patients was 56 years. Sensitivity of VC in detecting bladder lesions was 92%. However, when axial images were also interpreted along with VC, the sensitivity increased to 96% for detecting bladder lesions. The specificity of VC with axial CT was 40% in respect of detecting bladder lesions. VC with axial CT was 85.7% sensitive in identifying multiple bladder tumors. There were no complications on account of performing VC. Minor problems were encountered with VC and CPE in 16.7% and 13.3% patients respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
VC with axial CT is 96% sensitive in detecting bladder lesions and 85.7% sensitive in detecting the multiplicity of the tumors. VC may be a useful complementary diagnostic tool for the workup of select patients with suspected bladder lesions. However, larger randomized controlled studies are needed to better define the precise clinical and diagnostic role of VC in routine practice.


METHODS
Prospective Clinical Comparative Non Randomized Clinical Study.
Department of Surgery (Div of Urology), University College of Medical Sciences (University of Delhi) and GTB Hospital, Delhi, India.
Iqbal
I
Singh
Gopesh
G
Mehrotra
Maninder S
MS
Jaura
Vivek
V
Agarwal
Anupama
A
Tandon
Mohit
M
Joshi