The exclusive reliance on standard urinary cytology and cystoscopy for early diagnosis and monitoring of bladder cancer is now challenged by innovative techniques. A variety of urine tests employing immunostaining promise to enhance the value of cytological examination. Detection of tumordash;associated antigens and substances present in the urine of patients harboring bladder cancer has reached a high degree of sophistication. Laboratorydash;based tests offer the possibility of early prediction of recurrence with a significant degree of accuracy. Equally exciting is the availability of rapid urine tests (pointdash;ofdash;care) that offer better sensitivity and specificity than cytology, deliver immediate results and provide an indication of the degree of tumor differentiation. Curr Opin Urol 8:419ndash;423. copy; 1998 Lippincott Williams amp; Wilkins.
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