Urine Cytology Urinary cytology is the study of cells from the bladder. Usually, three specimens are acquired for analysis. Specimens from bladder lavage can be submitted to flow cytometry for further analysis. False-positive cytologic results may be caused by factors such as inflammation or changes brought on by radiation therapy or chemotherapy. Therefore, the physician will want to rule out infection before making a diagnosis, although some bladder cancer patients also have UTIs due to microorganism growth on the rough the surfaces of their tumors.
Sterile pyuria is caused by cancer cells that flake off into the urine and resemble pus.
Unfortunately, though, flow cytometry is not a valuable diagnostic tool unless it is conducted and interpreted by a trained cytopathologist, who is an expert in cell disease. The physician will use the IVP to rule out hematuria due to kidney disorders, for example, kidney stones, tuberculosis, or tumors. The IVP usually is conducted before cystoscopy. It can provide information about the bladder as well as the upper urinary tracts. Usually performed in the doctor's office or outpatient facility, cystoscopy is perhaps the most powerful diagnostic tool for bladder cancer diagnosis.