ABSTRACT
This chapter summarizes the factors that contribute to diagnostic reliability and identifies some of the pitfalls and problems to be avoided in using urinary cytology for diagnosis of bladder cancer. In the 20th century, clinical cytology advanced rapidly under the leadership of Papanicolaou. In diagnostic cytology, more than in any other area of laboratory medicine, success depends upon a close cooperation of a highly knowledgeable team. When cystoscopic examination is negative for neoplasm after cellular abnormalities are observed in urine samples, collections from the ureter and renal pelvis can help pinpoint the source of the abnormality. The ureters and renal pelves should be examined when there are unexplained cellular abnormalities in urine samples from the bladder, but an absence of lesions on cystoscopy and random biopsy. Cytologic studies have been primarily responsible for the evolution of knowledge about precursors to cervical carcinoma and are assuming an increasing role in relation to bladder cancer precursors.
