Objective: To investigate whether the location of carcinoma in situ (CIS) of bladder cancer could be macroscopically ascertained by instilling pirarubicin (THP) into urinary bladder.
Methods: 50 mg of THP was dissolved into 50 ml of 5% glucose solution. And the resulting solution was instilled into urinary bladder. After 15 min, the urinary bladder was observed by a cystoscopy. The study group consisted of 51 patients with bladder cancer (37 males, 14 females) and 14 patients with hematuria (8 males, 6 females), treated at our hospital from December 2007 to June 2008.
Results: The THP uptake was seen in 67 flat (non-tumorous) areas of bladder mucosa in 37 patients with bladder cancer. Of these, 11 lesions in 7 patients were confirmed to be CIS. The THP uptake was found in 2 flat (non-tumorous) areas of bladder mucosa in 14 patients with hematuria, 1 lesion in 1 patient was confirmed to be CIS. The sensitivity and specificity of THP uptake by CIS were 92.3% (12/13) and 86.7% (371/428) respectively.
Conclusion: This practical method may be employed to ascertain easily the macroscopic location of CIS of bladder cancer.