Transurethral resection and surveillance of bladder cancer supported by 5-aminolevulinic acid-induced fluorescence endoscopy.

PURPOSE We determined whether neoplastic disease, which was missed under white light can be found during transurethral resection of bladder cancer by 5-aminolevulinic acid-induced porphyrin fluorescence. MATERIALS AND METHODS 5-Aminolevulinic acid-induced fluorescence endoscopy was carried out in 328 cases. A 3% 5-aminolevulinic acid solution was instilled intravesically in a mean time of 2.8 h before endoscopy. The fluorescence was excited by a special incoherent light source which provided blue light in addition to white light. RESULTS In 82 (25%) cases additional neoplastic lesions were found only because of their red porphyrin fluorescence which was induced by 5-aminolevulinic acid. 31% of these neoplastic foci which were found in normal and nonspecific inflamed mucosa had a poorly differentiated histology. CONCLUSIONS 5-Aminolevulinic acid facilitates detection of neoplastic disease during transurethral resection of bladder cancer and increases the accuracy of diagnosis.