Detection of early bladder cancer by 5-aminolevulinic acid induced porphyrin fluorescence.

Abstract

We determined whether the sensitivity of detecting dysplasia or early bladder cancer can be improved by 5-aminolevulinic acid induced porphyrin fluorescence. A 3% 5-aminolevulinic acid solution was instilled intravesically before cystoscopy in 104 patients. The 5-aminolevulinic acid induced porphyrin fluorescence was excited by violet light from a krypton ion laser (wavelength 406.7 nm.). The sensitivity of the fluorescence cystoscopy (96.9%) was significantly (p < 0.0001) greater than that of white light cystoscopy (72.7%). There was no impact on specificity. Due to the high sensitivity of the procedure fluorescence guided biopsies are recommended instead of random biopsies.