Bladder cancer: Diagnosis

Bladder Cancer - Diagnosis

How is bladder cancer diagnosed?

Tests and procedures used to diagnose bladder cancer may include:

Blood and urine tests: to help diagnose the bladder cancer or identify other conditions that may be causing the symptoms such as an enlarged prostate, urinary tract infection or kidney stones.
Cystoscopy: This is the most common and reliable test for bladder cancer. During a cystoscopy, a thin tube with a camera on the end is inserted through the urethra to allow the doctor to examine the urethra and bladder for signs of disease.
Biopsy: During the cystoscopy, the doctor may pass a special tool through the scope and into your bladder to collect a cell sample (biopsy) for testing. This procedure is sometimes called transurethral resection. The cells are sent to the pathologist who will examine them under the microscope so that a diagnosis can be made.
Urine cytology: A sample of your urine is analyzed under a microscope to check for cancer cells in a procedure called urine cytology.
Imaging tests: The most common imaging test for bladder cancer is computerized tomography (CT) urogram. During a CT urogram, a contrast dye is injected into a vein in your hand and eventually flows into your kidneys, ureters and bladder. The contrast dye provides a detailed view to help identify any areas where there might be cancer.

Other diagnostic tests that may be done include MRI (magnetic resonance imaging scans), PET (positron emission tomography) scans, bone scans and chest x-rays or chest CT scan.

After confirming that you have bladder cancer, additional tests may be recommended to determine if the cancer has spread to your lymph nodes or other parts of the body.