Narrow-band imaging cystoscopy to evaluate bladder tumours--individual surgeon variability.

STUDY TYPE

Diagnosis (exploratory cohort) Level of Evidence 2b.

OBJECTIVE

To assess individual urologist variability using narrow-band imaging (NBI) cystoscopy to evaluate bladder tumours.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

In all, 50 patients underwent white-light and NBI cystoscopy to evaluate for recurrent bladder tumours. Endoscopic images in each patient were independently viewed by four urologists assessing presence or absence of tumour. Their findings were correlated with biopsy results.

RESULTS

In all, 26 patients had recurrent tumour and 24 had benign histology. There were no significant differences among urologists detecting recurrent tumour or in determining final pathology.

CONCLUSIONS

There does not appear to be a 'learning curve' for adapting to NBI-surveillance cystoscopy in patients with bladder cancer.