To assess the techniques and outcomes of URS biopsy and the diagnostic yield of cytology in patients with suspicion of UTUC, specifically focusing on the effectiveness of different biopsy methods.
Key Findings:
49.7% of patients received a dURS, with 31.6% undergoing dURS with biopsy.
83.5% of biopsy samples were of sufficient quality for diagnosis.
Tumour stage was reported in 62% of biopsies, with most diagnosed as Ta-disease.
Urine cytology outcome was concordant with final pathology grade in 44.1% of cases, indicating potential diagnostic limitations.
Interpretation:
The study highlights the variability in biopsy quality and the diagnostic challenges in UTUC, emphasizing the need for standardized procedures that could improve diagnostic accuracy.
Limitations:
The study relied on data from a registry, which may have inherent biases affecting the generalizability of the findings.
The predictive value of urine cytology remains poor, complicating diagnosis and potentially leading to misclassification of disease stage.
Conclusion:
The findings underscore the importance of improving biopsy techniques and the integration of cytology in the diagnostic process for UTUC, which could enhance patient management and outcomes.
by Joyce Baard, Luigi Cormio, Ranan Dasgupta, Daniele Maruzzi, Soroush Rais-Bahrami, Alvaro Serrano, Bogdan Geavlete, Stilianos Giannakopoulos, Jean de la Rosette, Pilar Laguna
