Multiparametric cystoscopy: opportunities to enhance bladder cancer detection

The majority (75%) of incident bladder cancer cases are non-muscle invasive (NMIBC) (1). These tumors have high rates of recurrence and progression that significantly contribute to the cost and morbidity associated with each bladder cancer diagnosis. Cystoscopy with transurethral resection of bladder tumors (TURBT) is a diagnostic and therapeutic procedure. Accordingly, optimal identification of all visible tumors during each cystoscopy is essential for accurate staging and therefore treatment. The current gold standard modality is white light cystoscopy (WLC). However, novel cystoscopic imaging modalities such as photodynamic diagnostic (PDD, aka fluorescence) cystoscopy are being increasingly adopted and recommended for use by societal guidelines (2). These recommendations are supported by a growing body of literature that suggests lower recurrence and long-term progression rates when compared to traditional WLC (3). WLC sufficiently identifies large papillary lesions, but has well known limitations such as missing multi-focal lesions, microscopic or flat lesions such as carcinoma in-situ (CIS), or misidentifying dysplasia or inflammation (4). Given the importance of accurate staging and oncologic risks of missed lesions, there is a need to develop and implement new techniques and modalities that can improve the detection of bladder tumors.

In their article entitled “Multiparametric Cystoscopy for Detection of Bladder Cancer Using Real-time Multispectral Imaging”, published in European Urology, Kriegmair and colleagues reported results from a feasibility study using novel multiparametric cystoscopy technology with real-time image fusion (5). In their study of 10 patients, real-time multispectral imaging enhanced cystoscopy was created using a camera, light source, microcontroller, and a filtered video-adapter. White light, enhanced vascular contrast (EVC), blue light fluorescence (PDD), protoporphyrin IX fluorescence, and autofluorescence (AF) were used independently and then merged into one image to scan the bladder and identify lesions, after which point standard cystoscopy was used to resect all lesions. Two independent urologists performed post-surgical analysis of the images on all modalities to grade lesions on a 4-point Likert scale from “not suspicious” to “clearly suspicious”.

Using multi-spectral imaging, the authors found 31 lesions in 10 patients, 27 of which were malignant in 9 patients. The majority of lesions were low-grade (LG) Ta (n=22) with 2/5 high-grade lesions CIS. Multiparametric imaging had the highest probability of being score “clearly suspicious”, followed by PDD at 0.57 and white light at 0.47. All five modalities had a probability greater than zero of completely missing a lesion, while the fused multiparametric imaging did not (P=0.128). They also suggest the possibility of this technique improving the detection of flat lesions. However, PDD correlated closely to overall multiparametric imaging scores among flat lesions, suggesting that PDD may be driving the increase in the multiparametric score with marginal value added by other modalities. Furthermore, there were only 2 (7.4%) CIS lesions, making the true improvement of CIS detection difficult to assess. High-grade NMIBC detection, particularly CIS lesion detection, is a common endpoint of other studies that suggests a 12% and 27% increase in CIS detection with PDD (6) or narrow-band imaging (NBI) (7), respectively.

The authors should be congratulated on their early results showing technical feasibility of fusing multiple imaging modalities during real-time cystoscopy. This technique shows promise to overcome limitations of PDD and NBI with complementary strengths of other imaging modalities such as EVC. As this technique further evolves and is validated, combining multiparametric cystoscopy with microscopic biopsy techniques such as confocal laser endomicroscopy and optical coherence tomography has the potential to improve biopsy accuracy and staging (8). Optical coherence tomography, a high-resolution subsurface imaging technique, provides a high positive predictive value and when combined with PDD decreased false negative biopsies increasing specificity from 62% to 87% in a single centered study (9). Overlaying other developing deep learning technologies has the potential to further improve diagnostic yields (10).

As larger prospective data is collected, it will also be important for future research to assess the learning curve of multiparametric cystoscopy while also studying its dissemination and implementation in the community. Although most urologists are facile with WLC, the learning curve for photodynamic cystoscopy using hexaminolevulinate hydrochloride was 20 cases for training urologists with sustained decrease in the false positive rate seen at up to 50 cases (11). The relatively slow diffusion and uptake of new technology may delay the impact multiparametric cystoscopy has in the short term, but these aggregate technologic gains will continue to drive improvements in bladder cancer outcomes.

Acknowledgments

Funding: None.

Footnote

Provenance and Peer Review: This article was commissioned by the editorial office, Translational Andrology and Urology. The article did not undergo external peer review.

Conflicts of Interest: Both authors have completed the ICMJE uniform disclosure form (available at http://dx.doi.org/10.21037/tau-20-848). The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.

Ethical Statement: The authors are accountable for all aspects of the work in ensuring that questions related to the accuracy or integrity of any part of the work are appropriately investigated and resolved.

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