Bladder cancer diagnosis
More detailed information about bladder cancer diagnosis
If a doctor has any reason to suspect bladder cancer, he may use several tests to find
out if the disease is present. As a first step, a complete medical history will be taken
to check for any risk factors. A thorough physical examination will be conducted to assess
all the signs and symptoms. Laboratory testing of a urine sample will help to rule out the
presence of a bacterial infection. In a urine cytology test, the urine is examined under a
microscope to look for any abnormal or cancerous cells. A catheter (tube) can be advanced
into the bladder through the urethra, and a salt solution is passed through it to wash the
bladder. The solution can then be collected and examined under a microscope to check for
the presence of any cancerous cells.
A test known as the intravenous pyelogram (IVP) is an x ray examination that is done
after a dye is injected into the blood stream through a vein in the arm. The dye travels
through the blood stream and then reaches the kidneys to be excreted. It clearly outlines
the kidneys, ureters, bladder, and urethra. Multiple x rays are taken to detect any
abnormality in the lining of these organs.
The physician may use a procedure known as a cystoscopy to view the inside of the
bladder. A thin hollow lighted tube is introduced into the bladder through the urethra. If
any suspicious looking masses are seen, a small piece of the tissue can be removed from it
using a pair of biopsy forceps. The tissue is then examined microscopically to verify if
cancer is present, and if so, to identify the type of cancer.
If cancer is detected and there is evidence to indicate that it has metastasized to
distant sites in the body, imaging tests such as chest x rays, computed tomography scans (CT), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) may be done to determine which
organs are affected. Bladder cancer generally tends to spread to the lungs, liver, and
bone. |