The influence of haematuria on the utility of the BTA stat test in the diagnosis of bladder cancer: a prospective study

Background The urinary bladder tumour antigen (BTA) stat test has already been used for the diagnosis and monitoring of bladder cancer (BC). However, more evidence is needed regarding its efficacy and utility in the clinic. In this study, we investigated the influence of haematuria on the performance of the BTA stat test in a clinical cohort.Methods Urine samples from 836 subjects, including 50 healthy volunteers, 553 patients with benign urologic disorders, 124 patients with histologically proven BC, and 109 patients with other histologically proven urologic cancers, were analysed by the BTA stat test and urinalysis. We detected the sensitivity and specificity of the BTA stat test in each group and analysed the effect of haematuria on the specificity.Results Our data show that 58.06% of patients in the BC group had haematuria. Haematuria with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), renal hamartoma (RH) and urolithiasis were identified in 39.01%, 42.86% and 66.49% of patients with benign urologic disorders, respectively. Haematuria was identified in 48.72% of prostatic cancer patients and 67.74% of renal cancer patients. The overall sensitivity of the BTA stat test was 90.32%. The sensitivity was 97.22% in BC patients with haematuria and 80.77% in BC patients without haematuria. The overall specificity in healthy individuals, patients with benign urologic disorders and patients with other urologic cancers was 50.84%. In all patients with haematuria, the specificity of the BTA stat test was 15.82%, while the specificity was 72.6% in patients without haematuria.Conclusions Haematuria has a significant influence on the BTA stat test. The performance of the BTA stat test can be increased if patients with known or obvious haematuria conditions are excluded from the test.

The influence of haematuria on the utility of the BTA stat test in the diagnosis of bladder cancer: a prospective study

Background: The urinary bladder tumour antigen (BTA) stat test has already been used for the diagnosis and monitoring of bladder cancer (BC). However, more evidence is needed regarding its efficacy and utility in the clinic. In this study, we investigated the influence of haematuria on the performance of the BTA stat test in a clinical cohort. Methods: Urine samples from 836 subjects, including 50 healthy volunteers, 553 patients with benign urologic disorders, 124 patients with histologically proven BC, and 109 patients with other histologically proven urologic cancers, were analysed by the BTA stat test and urinalysis. We detected the sensitivity and specificity of the BTA stat test in each group, and analysed the effect of haematuria on the specificity. Results: Our data showed that 58.06% of patients had haematuria in the BC group. Haematuria with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), renal hamartoma (RH) and urolithiasis were identified in 39.01%, 42.86% and 66.49% of patients with benign urologic disorders, respectively. Haematuria was identified in 48.72% of prostatic cancer patients and 67.74% of renal cancer patients. The overall sensitivity of the BTA stat test was 90.32%. The sensitivity was 97.22% in BC patients with haematuria and 80.77% in BC patients without haematuria. The overall specificity in healthy individuals, patients with benign urologic disorders and other urologic cancers was 50.84%. In all patients with haematuria, the specificity of the BTA stat test was 15.82%, while it was 72.6% in patients without haematuria. Conclusions: Haematuria has a significant influence on the BTA stat test. Thus, this test should not be used for the diagnosis of bladder cancer in patients with haematuria.

Interference From Haematuria Renders the Urinary BTA Test Not Specific Enough for Diagnosing Bladder Cancer: Evidence From Clinical Practice

Background The urinary bladder tumour antigen (BTA) stat test has already been used for the diagnosis and monitoring of bladder cancer (BC). However, more evidence is needed regarding its efficacy and utility in the clinic. In this study, we investigated the influence of haematuria on the performance of the BTA stat test in a clinical cohort.Methods Urine samples from 836 subjects, including 50 healthy volunteers, 553 patients with benign urologic disorders, 124 patients with histologically proven BC, and 109 patients with other histologically proven urologic cancers, were analysed by the BTA stat test and urinalysis. We detected the sensitivity and specificity of the BTA stat test in each group, and analysed the effect of haematuria on the specificity.Results Our data showed that 58.06% of patients had haematuria in the BC group. Haematuria with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), renal hamartoma (RH) and urolithiasis were identified in 39.01%, 42.86% and 66.49% of patients with benign urologic disorders, respectively. Haematuria was identified in 48.72% of prostatic cancer patients and 67.74% of renal cancer patients. The overall sensitivity of the BTA stat test was 90.32%. The sensitivity was 97.22% in BC patients with haematuria and 80.77% in BC patients without haematuria. The overall specificity in healthy individuals, patients with benign urologic disorders and other urologic cancers was 50.84%. In all patients with haematuria, the specificity of the BTA stat test was 15.82%, while it was 72.6% in patients without haematuria.Conclusions Haematuria has a significant influence on the BTA stat test. Our study suggested that the BTA stat test is not an ideal diagnostic tool for BC.

Case report of leiomyosarcoma, a very rare type of urinary bladder tumour

Urinary bladder tumours account for approximately 1% of all tumours in dogs. The majority of them are epithelial in origin and malignant. Transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) is the most commonly diagnosed tumour of the urinary bladder. Malignant mesenchymal tumours in humans and animals are far less frequent than epithelial ones. Malignant mesenchymal urinary bladder tumours are represented by rabdomyosarcoma (RMS) and leiomyosarcoma (LMS). LMS occurs in older dogs, aged 7 - 12 years, and originates from the urinary bladder trigone and urethra, thus disturbing the urinary flow. LMSs are usually invasive, with a tendency to metastasize rapidly to the regional lymph nodes or abdominal organs, such as the liver, pancreas, kidneys, intestines and omentum. The aim of this report is to describe the clinical presentation, diagnostic approach and surgical treatment of the urinary bladder leiomyosarcoma that occurred in a Bernese Mountain Dog. The paper also highlights the latest diagnostic techniques for urinary bladder tumour detection, general rules of surgical resection and chemotherapy.

Clinical factors determining the efficacy of urinary bladder tumour treatments in dogs: Surgery, chemotherapy or both?

In a study of 44 canine patients suffering from histopathologically proven urinary bladder tumour with a high incidence of transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) (n = 35), a close relationship was found either between the disease-free period and the age (r = −0.40) of animals or between the survival times and the age (r = −0.62) of animals after treatment. In addition to the dog breeds known to be prone to have urinary bladder tumour, we found an additional potentially sensitive breed, the Hungarian Vizsla. The median survival times obtained by the applied treatment types were as follow: ‘surgery and chemotherapy’ (n = 8/44) 475 days, ‘surgery alone’ (n = 19/44) 240 days, ‘chemotherapy alone’ (n = 7/44) 31 days, and ‘no treatment’ (n = 10/44) 7 days (P < 0.001). According to the findings, chemotherapy combined with surgery completed in time is the most effective protocol in the treatment of urinary bladder tumour cases in dogs. A rational and more effective procedure for the assessment and treatment of urinary bladder tumour cases is presented.