title: Size of bladder cancers: correlation among different types of measurement.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  It was the aim of this study to evaluate the accuracy of the measurement of tumor size comparing the objective size with that measured by preoperative cystoscopy, by preoperative ultrasound (US) and with the diameter described by the operator before the transurethral resection.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study included 100 patients with bladder papillary endoscopic features of single or multiple neoplasms who were candidates for transurethral resection. The sizes of the same neoplasms measured during preoperative cystoscopy, preoperative US and described by the operator before the transurethral resection were evaluated. A statistical analysis of the errors of measurement was performed if compared with an objective measurement done with an ureteral catheter.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The statistical analysis of the data shows that there are no substantial differences between the objective and subjective measurement, and therefore, the measurements reported by individual operators are reliable. On the contrary, the diameters given by preoperative cystoscopy and US differ significantly from the objective measurement.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study shows that the most reliable measurement is the subjective measurement made directly by the urologist in the operating room.
authors.affiliation: Urological Clinic, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Racioppi
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Cappa
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: D'Agostino
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Filianoti
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Pugliese
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cadeddu
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: De Wore
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sacco
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Pinto
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: D'Addessi
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ghera
authors.forename: P F
authors.initials: PF
authors.lastname: Bassi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000465:Algorithms; D003558:Cystoscopy / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D004724:Endoscopy / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D015588:Observer Variation; D011336:Probability; D011379:Prognosis; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D014463:Ultrasonography / Q000379:methods*; D014521:Urethra / Q000601:surgery; D001749:Urinary Bladder Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*