Value of Urinary Cytology in Women Presenting With Urge Incontinence and/or Irritative Voiding Symptoms

Abstract

A retrospective study was done to determine whether voided urinary cytology was necessary in women with irritative voiding symptoms without hematuria. A total of 202 cytology studies was obtained from 128 women presenting with urge incontinence and/or irritative voiding symptoms between 1990 and 1995. Five patients with irritative symptoms and hematuria were diagnosed with transitional cell carcinoma. Cytology was positive in 3 patients, atypical in 1 and normal in 1. No positive cytology studies or carcinomas were noted in patients without hematuria. Urinary tract carcinoma was confirmed by cystoscopy and biopsy if necessary. The benefits of cytology for patients without hematuria are questioned in the cost-effective treatment of female patients with irritative bladder symptoms.