Early detection and screening for urinary tract illnesses is a complex and widespread process which has implications for both preventative care, diagnosis, and treatment monitoring. In this paper, we investigate the use of Raman spectroscopy (RS) for the analysis of urine, a complex biological solution, for the detection of bladder cancer (BCa) and hematuria. Raman spectroscopy is a rapid, low cost, non-destructive analysis method with wide-ranging applicability due to the holistic data capturing nature of the scanning technique. Each Raman scan can be considered a 'snapshot' of the molecular makeup of the sample, and, through proper applications of algorithmic transformation and statistical analysis, many types of assessments can be performed on each sample. In this paper we address creating and utilizing a data pipeline for the purposes of analyzing and characterizing potential samples with hematuria and BCa. The algorithmic transformations utilized include baselining using either the Goldindec or ISREA methods, and intensity normalization. The statistical analysis methods utilized include principal component analysis (PCA), discriminant analysis of principal components (DAPC), analysis of variance (ANOVA), pairwise ANOVA, leave-one-out cross-validation (LOOCV), and partial least squares regression (PLSR). These components of the data pipeline serve to output qualitative or quantitative data, depending on the application. The Rametrix toolbox encompasses the tools required to transform and assess Raman spectra with PCA and DAPC. Using the Rametrix toolbox as well as ANOVA, pairwise ANOVA, and LOOCV, we were able to significantly detect the presence of bladder cancer in a specimen with 80% accuracy. Using the Rametrix toolbox, ANOVA, pairwise ANOVA, LOOCV, and PLSR, we were able to classify samples as pure urine, micro-, or macrohematuria with a greater than 91% accuracy, and quantify the amount of blood in the sample with a high correlation (R-squared value of 0.92). In combination, this style of data pipeline is shown to rapidly and accurately test for multiple symptoms or diseases using similar methodologies. / Master of Science / In the United States, over 37 million people live with chronic kidney disease, over 81 thousand new cases of bladder cancer will be diagnosed, and over 17 thousand people will die from bladder cancer. These serious renal and urinary tract illnesses require urinalysis as a major component of detection, diagnosis, and monitoring of the diseases. This level of required testing has significant costs, both in labor and financial impact. Reduction in both the labor and consumable reagent costs associated with urinalysis would serve to improve the ability for the healthcare system provide the necessary testing for these patients, and reduce the risk of shortages in both reagents and staff. We present a new analysis method, termed 'data pipeline', which would take data from a spectrographic data collection method, Raman Spectroscopy (RS), and generate useable output in the form of classification and quantification. These outputs are highly desired for urinalysis, as urine collection is largely the least invasive testing method related to the urinary tract. As we have shown, the RametrixTM toolbox, an algorithmic package of mathematical methods for assessing spectra, is the backbone of a data pipeline capable of detecting both hematuria, an early warning symptom of many urinary tract illness, and bladder cancer, a notably difficult to detect disease, with high accuracy. This method of analysis is non-destructive of the samples, requires no reagents or single use dipsticks, avoids subjective color assessment, and provides rapid results in a repeatable, potentially automatable manner. We investigate a critical component of this process, the baselining method, in order to further examine and refine the methodology by comparing the accuracy and statistical quality of the results with different baseline methods. It is our goal to implement this methodology with the best component processes, in order to achieve a highly robust, accurate tool for assisting in urinalysis testing.

京都大学 / 新制・課程博士 / 博士(社会健康医学) / 甲第24536号 / 社医博第128号 / 新制||社医||12(附属図書館) / 京都大学大学院医学研究科社会健康医学系専攻 / (主査)教授 近藤 尚己, 教授 西浦 博, 教授 柳田 素子 / 学位規則第4条第1項該当 / Doctor of Public Health / Kyoto University / DFAM

Submitted by Cássia Santos (cassia.bcufg@gmail.com) on 2014-10-16T15:13:44Z No. of bitstreams: 2 Dissertacao Ely Rodrigues de Almeida - 2013.pdf: 1560361 bytes, checksum: 153a2514b81e70d5b31e01a1cc0d09b6 (MD5) license_rdf: 23148 bytes, checksum: 9da0b6dfac957114c6a7714714b86306 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Jaqueline Silva (jtas29@gmail.com) on 2014-10-20T20:06:38Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 2 Dissertacao Ely Rodrigues de Almeida - 2013.pdf: 1560361 bytes, checksum: 153a2514b81e70d5b31e01a1cc0d09b6 (MD5) license_rdf: 23148 bytes, checksum: 9da0b6dfac957114c6a7714714b86306 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2014-10-20T20:06:38Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 Dissertacao Ely Rodrigues de Almeida - 2013.pdf: 1560361 bytes, checksum: 153a2514b81e70d5b31e01a1cc0d09b6 (MD5) license_rdf: 23148 bytes, checksum: 9da0b6dfac957114c6a7714714b86306 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2013-10-15 / INTRODUCTION: Anticoagulation with warfarin is used in the presence of hypercoagulability and as prophylaxis for thromboembolism. Prothrombin time and activity and the international normalized ratio (PTA/INR) are the standard tests for laboratory follow up of the anticoagulation rate. Hemorrhage is one complication of this therapy. Therefore, one speculates on the possibility of diagnosing cases in which there is excess anticoagulation, by means of the analysis of hematuria in urinalysis and the association with PTA/INR. OBJECTIVE: Analyze the existence of a correlation between hematuria in urinalysis and high PTA/INR, among users of warfarin. METHODOLOGY: This is a descriptive, analytical, primary, quantitative and cross-sectional investigation. The study included 128 patients, 63 of whom were being treated with warfarin, and formed the group of anticoagulated patients (ACG). The remaining 65 patients who were not using anticoagulants formed the non anticoagulated group (NACG). For this study, 152 blood and urine samples were collected; 24 patients of the ACG contributed twice for the PTA/INR and urinalysis, at two different times. All the participants of the NACG also had the PTA/INR and urinalysis tests done. Patients with a clinical suspicion of conditions that might cause hematuria were excluded. The social and demographic data of these individuals were analyzed and the numerical variables of hematuria and of other urinalysis and INR parameters were measured and analyzed. The prevalence and the correlation between hematuria and PTA/INR levels were calculated. Data from the tests, medical appointments and the records of patients recruited in the collection room of the Clinical Laboratory of the HC-UFG were evaluated statistically, and emphasis was placed on the Spearman's correlation for hematuria and PTA/INR (IC 95%; p< 0.05). The study was approved by the Committee on Ethics and Human Research of the HC-UFG, protocol No. 016/2012. RESULTS: The amount of warfarin given on a weekly basis ranged from 10 to 65 mg. If one considers the INR between 2 and 3.9 acceptable for adequate anticoagulation, 59.77% of the individuals were adequately anticoagulated, 35% were insufficiently anticoagulated and 5.75% were excessively anticoagulated. The prevalence of hematuria among the ACG members was 26.44 % (CI 95% 17.98 – 36.43) and among NACG members, 29.23 % (CI 95% 19.16 – 41.11). The correlation coefficient between hematuria and INR was 0.012 (p=0.887). CONCLUSIONS: The most of the patients (59.7%) were within the recommended therapeutic range for controlling patients. There was no correlation between hematuria as measured by urinalysis and anticoagulation levels measured by the INR. / INTRODUÇÃO: A anticoagulação com varfarina é usada na hipercoagubilidade e como profilaxia para o tromboembolismo. O tempo e atividade de protrombina e a relação normatizada internacional (TAP/RNI) são os exames padrões para acompanhamento laboratorial da taxa de anticoagulação. A hemorragia é uma complicação desta terapia. Dessa forma, especula-se a possibilidade de diagnosticar casos em que haja excesso de anticoagulação, por meio da análise da hematúria no exame dos elementos anormais e sedimentoscopia da urina (EAS) e a associação com TAP/RNI. OBJETIVO: Analisar a existência de correlação entre hematúria no EAS e TAP /RNI elevados, nos usuários do anticoagulante varfarina. METODOLOGIA: Estudo descritivo, analítico, primário, quantitativo e transversal. Incluíram-se 128 pacientes, sendo 63 tratados com varfarina, formando um grupo anticoagulado (GAC) e 65 que não faziam uso de anticoagulantes, grupo não anticoagulado (GNAC). Colheram-se 152 amostras de sangue e urina; das quais 24 pacientes do GAC contribuíram duas vezes para exames TAP/RNI e EAS, em dois momentos distintos. Todos os participantes do GNAC também se submeteram aos exames TAP/RNI e EAS. Excluíram-se pacientes com suspeita clínica de condições que causassem hematúria. Analisaram-se os dados sociodemográficos e fez-se a mensuração e a análise das variáveis numéricas hematúria e de outros parâmetros do EAS e RNI. Calculou-se a prevalência e a correlação entre hematúria e níveis de TAP/RNI. Os dados oriundos de exames, consultas médicas e dos prontuários dos pacientes recrutados na sala de coleta do Laboratório Clinico do HC-UFG, foram avaliados estatisticamente, com ênfase na correlação de Spearman para hematúria e TAP/RNI (IC 95%; p<0,05). O projeto foi aprovado pelo Comitê de Ética e Pesquisa Humana do HC-UFG sob o nº 016/2012. RESULTADOS: A quantidade de varfarina semanal variou de 10 a 65 mg. Considerando-se o valor de RNI entre 2 e 3,9, como valor aceitável para adequada anticoagulação, 59,77% estavam adequadamente anticoagulados, 35% insuficientemente e, com efeito anticoagulante excessivo, 5,75%. A prevalência de hematúria no GAC foi de 26,44 % (IC 95% 17,98 – 36,43) e no GNAC, foi de 29,23 % (IC 95% 19,16 – 41,11). O coeficiente de correlação entre hematúria e RNI foi de 0,012 (p=0,887). CONCLUSÕES: A maioria dos pacientes (59,7%) tinha a RNI na faixa terapêutica preconizada para anticoagulação. Não houve correlação entre hematúria ao exame EAS e os níveis de anticoagulação medidos pela RNI.

IgA nephropathy is the world's most common primary glomerulonephropathy. Recent evidence in a rat model implicated excessive production of oxygen-free radicals in the pathogenesis and suggested that vitamin E-treatment ameliorated progression. We studied this antioxidant therapy on the glomerular filtration rate (GFR), proteinuria and hematuria in biopsy-proven IgA nephropathy in children. The duration of treatment or placebo was 2 years, with vitamin E treatment consisting of 400 IU/day in children weighing <30 kg, and twice that dose for those >30 kg. We measured GFR at entry, midpoint and exit. At baseline and at 4-month intervals after randomization, urinary protein/creatinine ratios and urinalysis were examined. The mixed model procedure with log transformation was used in data analysis to test treatment difference as well as the potential time effect. Fifty-five patients were randomized and 38 completed at least 1 year of follow-up. At entry, the clinical characteristics were not different between the treatment and placebo groups. There was a trend toward better preservation of GFR in vitamin E-treated versus placebo patients, 127±50 vs. 112±31 ml/min/1.73 m2, respectively (P=0.09). The urinary protein/creatinine ratio was significantly lower in the vitamin E-treated group vs. placebo; 0.24±0.38 vs. 0.61±1.37 (P<0.013). However, there was no difference in the prevalence of hematuria between the groups. Vitamin E treatment in our study patients was associated with significantly lower proteinuria, but no effect on hematuria. While there was a trend toward stabilization of GFR in the vitamin E-treated patients, longterm treatment and follow-up are needed to determine whether antioxidant therapy is associated with preservation of renal function in IgA nephropathy.

No description available.

Abstract The aim of this work was to describe the clinical features and clinical course of Henoch-Schönlein purpura (HSP) in a prospective setting, to compare the efficacy of cyclosporine A (CyA) and methylprednisolone (MP) pulses for the treatment of severe HSP nephritis (HSN) and to study the effect of prophylactic prednisone treatment given at disease onset on the long-term outcome. A total of 223 children with newly diagnosed HSP were followed up prospectively for 6 months. Patients with severe HSN also had extrarenal symptoms more frequently during this time. Protein loss via the intestine was more common than previously described, occurring in 3% of the patients. HSN developed in the early course of the disease. The results suggest that weekly urine dipstick tests are indicated for 2 months after HSP onset and individually for over 6 months in cases of HSN or HSP recurrences. Prednisone did not affect the frequency or timing of the appearance of HSN. The efficacy of CyA and MP treatments was evaluated in a trial with a mean follow-up time of 6 years involving 24 paediatric patients (11 CyA, 13 MP), 15 of whom were randomized and 9 were treated according to the given protocol without randomization. Oral CyA was not inferior to intravenous MP pulses and proved to be an efficient, safe steroid-sparing treatment for severe HSN. All the CyA-treated patients achieved remission of nephrotic-range proteinuria within 3 months, while remission was achieved more slowly in the MP group and only in 6/13 (46%) with the initial treatment. There was no difference in the renal biopsy findings two years after initiation of the therapy. The 8-year outcome of HSP was assessed by means of a health questionnaire in 160 (94%) of the 171 former patients in the randomized placebo-controlled prednisone trial and in 138 (81%) with urine analysis and measurement of blood pressure. HSP carried a good prognosis, although skin relapses occurred up to a decade after the initial onset and could be accompanied by late-onset nephritis. Hypertension and/or renal abnormalities were recorded in 13% of the patients, being more frequent in those with an initial occurrence of HSN (OR 4.3, p=0.009, 95% CI 1.4–14.0) and warranting long-term follow-up of HSN patients. Early prednisone treatment did not affect the long-term outcome of HSP and should not be routinely used. / Tiivistelmä Väitöskirjan tarkoituksena oli kuvata Henoch-Schönleinin purppuran (HSP) oireita ja taudinkulkua, verrata siklosporiini A:n (CyA) ja metyyliprednisolonipulssihoidon (MP-pulssihoidon) tehoa vaikean HSP-nefriitin (HSN) hoidossa ja selvittää taudin alussa annetun prednisonihoidon vaikutusta pitkäaikaisennusteeseen. Taudinkulkua seurattiin prospektiivisesti 6 kuukauden ajan diagnoosista 223 lapsipotilaan aineistossa. Potilailla, joilla oli vaikea HSN, esiintyi myös muita oireita pitempään. Proteiinin menetystä suolistoon esiintyi 3 %:lla, mikä on aiemmin kuvattua yleisempää. HSN ilmaantui taudin alkuvaiheessa. Tutkimustulosten perusteella viikoittainen virtsanäytteiden seuranta riittää 2 kuukauden ajan taudin alusta. Seuranta-aikaa tulee pidentää yksilöllisesti yli 6 kuukauden, jos potilaalla todetaan HSN tai HSP uusiutuu. Prednisonilla ei todettu olevan vaikutusta HSN:n yleisyyteen tai ilmaantumisaikaan. CyA- ja MP-hoitojen tehoa vaikeaan HSN:n seurattiin 24 lapsipotilaan aineistossa (11 CyA, 13 MP) 6 vuoden ajan. Potilaista 15 satunnaistettiin hoitoryhmiin ja 9 hoidettiin tutkimussuunnitelman mukaan ilman satunnaistamista. Suun kautta otettu CyA vaikutti hoidoista tehokkaammalta, sillä kaikilla potilailla nefroottistasoinen valkuaisvirtsaisuus hävisi kolmessa kuukaudessa. MP-hoitoa saaneista vain 6/13 (46 %) pääsi remissioon MP-hoidolla ja hekin CyA-hoidettuja hitaammin. Kaksi vuotta tutkimuksen alusta otettujen munuaisbiopsioiden histologisissa löydöksissä ei ollut eroa ryhmien välillä. Varhaisen kortisonihoidon pitkäaikaisvaikutuksia arvioitiin 8 vuotta lumekontrolloidun prednisonihoitotutkimuksen jälkeen, jolloin aiemman tutkimuksen 171 potilaasta 160 (94 %) vastasi terveyskyselyyn ja 138 (81 %) osallistui virtsa-analyysin ja verenpaineen mittauksen sisältäneeseen seurantatutkimukseen. HSP:n ennuste oli hyvä, vaikka taudin iho-oireet saattoivat uusia jopa 10 vuoden ajan ja taudin uusiutumisen yhteydessä saattoi ilmaantua myöhäinen HSN. Kohonnut verenpaine ja/tai valkuais-/verivirtsaisuus todettiin 13 %:lla. Ne olivat yleisempiä potilailla, joilla oli ollut HSN taudin alkuvaiheessa (OR 4.3, p=0.009, 95 % CI 1.4–14.0). Siten HSN-potilaiden pitkäaikaisseuranta on tarpeen. Varhaisella kortisonihoidolla ei ollut vaikutusta taudin ennusteeseen, minkä vuoksi kortisonia tulee käyttää HSP-potilaiden hoidossa vain harkiten.

Bladder tumor is the most common tumor detected in patients presenting with gross hematuria. Early detection and treatment is crucial for good prognosis, however, delay in diagnosis and treatment is common. Routine work-up of gross hematuria includes cystoscopy and Computed Tomography Urography (CTU). If CTU has a high detection rate of bladder tumor, it can be used to direct further investigation of the patient, hopefully reducing delay to diagnosis and treatment. There is no consensus on which phase the bladder should be assessed at CTU. Assessment of the bladder in an early contrast-enhancing phase requires contrast material enhancement in bladder tumors and a bladder that is properly distended with urine. For patients younger than 50 years, the routine CTU protocol used for examining gross hematuria patients included unenhanced (UE), corticomedullary phase (CMP), and excretory phase (EP), with the start of the scan being enhancement triggered: patients aged 50 years or older followed the same protocol plus a nephrographic phase (NP). The CTU protocol was compared with flexible cystoscopy for detecting bladder tumors. Sensitivity for bladder cancer detection was equal for CTU and cystoscopy (0.87). Patients diagnosed with bladder cancer (n=50) were examined during UE, CMP, and EP, and 21 patients were additionally examined in NP. The highest mean tumor contrast enhancement was seen in CMP (37 HU). The CMP, NP, and EP in 106 patients were randomized into an evaluation order (n=318 different phases) and blindly reviewed by two uroradiologists. In CMP, sensitivity (0.95) and negative predictive value (0.99) were higher than in NP and EP. Four different preparation protocols for achieving bladder distension were compared. The protocol that included drinking 1 l of fluid during a two-hour period prior to examination without voiding during that period, gave satisfactory bladder distension without causing unacceptable patient discomfort and having the lowest compliance.   Gross hematuria patients should be primarily examined with CTU including UE, CMP and EP to direct further investigation of the patients. The patients should follow a preparation protocol including drinking 1 l of fluid during a two-hour period before examination and not voiding during that period.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-12-23T13:53:38Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Marcel Arcanjo Silva Azevedo.pdf: 869015 bytes, checksum: cfeb9681dc674d9ccb6415fdfbdee8ee (MD5) Previous issue date: 2013-07-31 / The bovine enzootic haematuria (BEH) is a chronic disease caused by Pteridium aquilinum and is characterized by the formation of non-neoplastic and neoplastic lesions in the bladder of the affected animals and has no specific treatment. In the southern region of the Espírito Santo, Brazil, this disease has a high prevalence and is responsible for major economic losses in dairy cattle, resulting from late diagnosis of the disease. Cytology associated with the use of biomarkers could aid in the early diagnosis of this disease. The aim of the study was to evaluate lesions bladders of cattle associated with enzootic hematuria through cytological techniques, immunocytochemistry and comet assay, for the diagnosis of early cellular damage caused by the disease. The study was divided into two experiments. In experiment 1, to standardize the harvesting technique, obtain samples and perform cytology of the bovine washing urinary bladder with BEH, were used 10 cattle, adult females divided into two groups. In group A was recovered all the liquid infused in the bladder, in group B, only the last liquid was recovered. In experiment 2, the cells obtained by bovine washing urinary bladder and were evaluated by immunocytochemistry using anti-p53 and comet assay and were used 10 cattle, adult females, divided in two groups of five animals, five healthy and five with BEH. The material was fixed and subjected to tests cytological, immunocytochemical and comet assay and evaluated microscopically. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, analysis of variance and nonparametric Kolmogorov-Smirnov test. Regarding the number of inflammatory cells and epithelial cells obtained per sample revealed that the two groups of experiment 1, all animals had more inflammatory cells than epithelial cells, however, there was no difference between the type of washing taken. The epithelial cells were found in 60% of cases and the alterations observed were discretes and cannot classify any sample as hyperplastic or neoplastic. In experiment 2, we observed positive immunostaining of p53 in only 20% of the samples, one of healthy animal and another animal with BEH. The comet assay revealed that both the samples of healthy animals as well as in animals positive for BEH not observed migrating nuclear fragments. Data from this study showed that the cytological examination of bovine washing urinary bladder may aid in the diagnosis of BEH and the two harvesting methods employed were adequate for obtaining viable samples. Cytology allowed the identification of non-neoplastic lesions predominantly inflammatory and immunocytochemistry technique with the expression of p53 as well as comet assay revealed no important cell damage since the animals used in the experiment had no neoplastic lesions

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:27:28Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2013-02-27Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T20:36:02Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 000747190.pdf: 1418817 bytes, checksum: b247c3f9bf3c90821dabe9c5f9e0cf21 (MD5) / Há discordância na literatura quanto à necessidade da realização da microscopia de fase para avaliação da origem da hematúria (glomerular ou não glomerular), isso mostra a necessidade de mais estudos para validar as modalidades de avaliação morfológica da hematúria. Os objetivos deste trabalho foram determinar o melhor ponto de corte da porcentagem dos diferentes padrões de células dismórficas na detecção da hematúria glomerular pelo microscópio óptico convencional e contraste de fase, verificar se a presença de proteinúria ou albuminúria pode auxiliar no diagnóstico da origem da hematúria e determinar o melhor ponto de corte para este parâmetro. Foram avaliadas de maneira cega 131 amostras de urina sendo 66 amostras de portadores de glomerulopatias e 65 amostras dos portadores de litíase renal da Faculdade de Medicina de Botucatu. Utilizaram-se amostras isoladas com densidade >1007 e com mais de 5 hemácias por campo de grande aumento. Verificou-se a presença e a porcentagem de codócitos e acantócitos tanto em microscópio óptico convencional com sedimento fresco e fixado submetidos à coloração de Papanicolaou e Panótico rápido LB e sedimento urinário fresco avaliado em microscópio de contraste de fase, além de determinar o índice de proteinúria e o índice de albuminúria. Os resultados desses métodos foram comparados entre si. Realizou-se regressão linear e diagrama de Bland-Altman das hemácias dismórficas para comparar os diferentes métodos. Curvas ROC foram traçadas para determinar a área sob a curva (ASC) e o melhor ponto de corte (PC) foi determinado pela maior soma de sensibilidade e especificidade. Nesse ponto foram calculadas a sensibilidade (S) e especificidade (Es), Valor Preditivo Positivo (VPP) e Valor Preditivo Negativo (VPN). No microscópio óptico convencional com sedimento urinário fresco, a ASC do dismorfismo eritrocitário total foi a que apresentou... / There is disagreement over the literature regarding the performance of phase microscopy to assess the origin f hematuria (glomerular or nonglomerular). This shows the need for further investigation in order to validate the best form of morphological evaluation of hematuria. The aims of this study were to determine the optimal cutoff point percentage for different patterns of dysmorphic cells in the detection of glomerular hematuria by conventional optical microscopy and phase contrast microscopy, to verify whether the presence of proteinuria or albuminuria may assist in the diagnosis of hematuria and also to establish an optimal cutoff point for this parameter. One hundred thirty-one urine samples were blinded evaluated at the Faculdade de Medicina de Botucatu, 66 samples of patients with glomerulopathies and 65 samples of patients with nephrolithiasis. Isolated samples with density greater than 1007 and with more than 5 erythrocytes per high-power field were used. The presence and percentage of codocytes and acanthocytes were verified by conventional optical microscopy using fresh and fixed urinary sediment subjected to Papanicolaou and Panótico Rápido LB staining and fresh urinary sediment was evaluated by phase contrast microscopy. Proteinuria and albuminuria rates were determined. The results of these methods were compared using linear regression analysis and Bland-Altman diagram of dysmorphic red blood cells. ROC curve plots were generated to determine the area under the ROC curve (AUC) and also an optimal cutoff point with the highest sum of sensitivity and specificity. At this point, it was possible to calculate sensitivity (TPR) and specificity (ES), positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV). In conventional optical microscope with fresh urinary sediment, the AUC of total dysmorphic erythrocytes showed the best result for the diagnosis of hematuria with AUC (IC 95%) ...

Introduction: Macroscopic hematuria is an important alarm symptom of cancer in theurinary tract. One single episode in patients over the age of 50 fulfills the criteria for referralto the standardized care pathway. Several patients included in the pathway with a negativeresult of the investigation will return with recurrent macroscopic hematuria for repeatinvestigation. Aim: To evaluate the diagnostic yield of repeat investigation in patients presenting withrecurrent macroscopic hematuria after a previous negative investigation and to estimate theincidence of false negative investigations in the standardized care pathway for cancer in theurinary tract. Material and Methods: A retrospective review of medical records was performed at theDepartment of Urology in Örebro County, including all patients investigated in thestandardized care pathway for cancer in the urinary tract during 2016 with a negative result ofthe investigation. Individuals with repeat investigation were identified. Results of theseinvestigations and the time interval between investigations were documented. Results: Repeat investigation was performed in 96 out of 627 patients (15.3%). Two (2.1%)were diagnosed with cancer, at a time interval from initial investigation of 4 and 27 months,respectively. Other results were benign urological conditions (n = 62) and normalinvestigations (n = 30). Conclusions: It appears that few tumors are missed when macroscopic hematuria isinvestigated in the standardized care pathway. We observed a very low number of newlydiagnosed cancers after repeat investigation of recurrent macroscopic hematuria. A moreselective approach regarding repeat investigations should be considered.