Grading urothelial carcinoma with probe-based confocal laser endomicroscopy during flexible cystoscopy

Ben Max de Ruiter*, Jan Erik Freund, C. Dilara Savci-Heijnink, Jons W. van Hattum, Theo M. de Reijke, Joyce Baard, Guido M. Kamphuis, D. Martijn de Bruin, Jorg R. Oddens

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

1 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

Purpose: Urothelial bladder cancer (UCB) care requires frequent follow-up cystoscopy and surgery. Confocal laser endomicroscopy (CLE) is a probe-based optical technique that can provide real-time microscopic evaluation with the potential for outpatient grading of UCB. This study aims to investigate the diagnostic accuracy and interobserver variability for the grading of UCB with CLE during flexible cystoscopy (fCLE). Methods: Participants scheduled for transurethral resection of papillary bladder tumors were prospectively included for intra-operative fCLE. Exclusion criteria were flat lesions, fluorescein allergy or pregnancy. Two independent observers evaluated fCLE, classifying tumors as low- or high-grade urothelial carcinoma (LGUC/HGUC) or benign. Interobserver agreement was calculated with Cohens kappa (κ) and diagnostic accuracy with 2 × 2 tables. Histopathology was the reference test. Results: Histopathology of 34 lesions revealed 14 HGUC, 14 LGUC and 6 benign tumors. Diagnostic yield for fCLE was 80–85% with a κ of 0.75. Respectively, sensitivity, specificity, NPV and PPV were: for benign tumors 0–20%, 96–100%, unmeasureable-50% and 87%, for LGUC 57–64%, 41–58%, 44–53% and 54–69% and for HGUC 38–57%, 56–68%, 38–57% and 56–68%, with an interobserver agreement of κ 0.61. Conclusion: fCLE is currently insufficient to grade UCB.

Original languageEnglish
Article number450
JournalWorld Journal of Urology
Volume42
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Dec 2024

Keywords

  • Bladder cancer
  • Confocal laser endomicroscopy
  • Cystoscopy
  • Diagnostics

Cite this