High-risk patients with hematuria are not evaluated according to guideline recommendations.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

To determine whether high-risk patients with hematuria receive evaluation according to guideline recommendations.

METHODS:

We recently performed a screening study for bladder cancer using a urine-based tumor marker in 1502 subjects at high risk based on aged > or = 50 years, > or = 10-year smoking history, and/or a 15-year or more environmental exposure. We evaluated use of urinalysis (UA) within 3 years preceding the screening study. Chart review was performed to determine if this subset with microhematuria received any additional evaluation.

RESULTS:

Of 1502 study participants, routine urinalysis was performed in 73.2% and 164 (14.9%) subjects had documented hematuria (>3 red blood cells / high-power field) before inclusion. Of these, 42.1% had no further evaluation. Additional testing included repeat urinalysis (36%), urine culture (15.2%), cytology (10.4%), imaging (22.6% overall: 15.9% computed tomography, 4.3% intravenous pyelography; 2.4% magnetic resonance imaging), and cystoscopy (12.8%). Three subjects with microscopic hematuria (2%) were subsequently found to have bladder cancer during the screening study but were not referred for evaluation based on their hematuria. The source of hematuria was unknown in 65%, infection in 22%, benign prostatic enlargement in 10%, and renal stone disease in 4%, but these results are based on incomplete evaluation since only 12.8% underwent cystoscopy.

CONCLUSIONS:

Subjects at high risk for bladder cancer based on > or = 10 years of smoking or environmental exposure with microscopic hematuria are rarely evaluated thoroughly and only 12.8% were referred for urologic evaluation. Further studies are needed to evaluate both the utilization and effectiveness of guidelines for hematuria.

• Authors: Keren Elias, Robert S Svatek, Samir Gupta, Richard Ho, Yair Lotan
• Journal: Cancer (Cancer) Vol. 116 Issue 12 Pg. 2954-9 (Jun 15 2010) ISSN: 0008-543X [Print] United States
• PMID: 20564400 (Publication Type: Evaluation Study, Journal Article, Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural)

Chemical References

• Biomarkers, Tumor

Topics

• Biomarkers, Tumor (analysis)
• Cytological Techniques (statistics & numerical data)
• Diagnostic Imaging (statistics & numerical data)
• Female
• Hematuria (diagnosis, etiology)
• Humans
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Occupational Exposure
• Practice Guidelines as Topic
• Referral and Consultation
• Risk
• Smoking
• Time Factors
• Urinalysis (statistics & numerical data)
• Urinary Bladder Neoplasms (diagnosis)