Blue Light Cystoscopy

UC Irvine Department of Urology offers a revolutionary diagnostic technique called Blue Light Cystoscopy.

Every year, more than 79,000 Americans face the possibility of a bladder cancer diagnosis.
Seven out of 10 bladder cancers are caught at an early stage.

Blue Light Cystoscopy (BLC) with Cysview is a diagnostic procedure used by healthcare professionals to detect carcinoma in the bladder. Research has shown that Blue Light Cystoscopy with Cysview improves detection and removal of early stage bladder cancer, often with greater accuracy than a cystoscopy using white light alone.

Blue Light Cystoscopy Technology

Detects carcinoma in the bladder

Uses specialized imaging medication

Improves detection accuracy

Cysview is an optical imaging agent, called hexaminolevulinate (HAL) hydrochloride, used to detect non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) including carcinoma in situ (CIS). Cysview is used in conjunction with the KARL STORZ Photodynamic Diagnostic (PDD) system to perform BLC. The procedure has been performed on over 450,000 patients worldwide and is available in over 120 US institutions, including UCI Urology.

How a Cystoscopy is Performed

During a cystoscopy, a thin, tube-like telescope is used to examine the bladder’s lining closely for abnormal growths or suspicious areas.

During the procedure, tissue samples may be removed for testing while the bladder lining is closely examined.

A standard cystoscopy uses a regular white light to help the doctor visually assess the bladder.

The white light is effective for detecting larger, non-muscle bladder cancer, but smaller cancerous areas might be too hard to spot.

With the innovative Blue Light Cystoscopy technology, the cystoscope is equipped with white and blue light.

An optimal imaging medication that is absorbed by cancer cells is also administered.

Under the blue light, tumors and lesions glow pink against healthy tissue that appears blue.

This level of detection makes it easier for your doctor to see–and completely remove–abnormal growths. With a more complete removal of the bladder cancer, patients may experience lowered chances of recurrence with this technology.

Blue light highlights tumors and lesions.

Healthy tissue appears blue during inspection.

Cancerous areas glow pink under blue light.

Improved visualization helps guide tumor removal.

The Benefits of Blue Light Cystoscopy

Detects more Ta/T1 bladder cancer lesions than white light alone.

Helps detect additional bladder cancer lesions during evaluation.

Improves tumor resection during the same TURBTS procedure.

Helps lead to fewer recurrences of bladder cancer.

BLC is the only FDA-approved technology that detects more Ta/T1 bladder cancer lesions than white light cystoscopy alone. One or more additional Ta or T1 bladder cancer lesions were detected by BLC with Cysview in 16.4% of patients compared to white light alone. 34.6% patients who recurred with CIS were detected with BLC only. BLC detects more NMIBC, resulting in improved tumor resection, since tumors are resected in the same TURBTS procedure. BLC also helps lead to fewer recurrences of bladder cancer and allows for better patient management decisions.

What to Expect

During the Procedure

During a BLC procedure, a catheter tube is inserted into the bladder through the urethra and is used to place the Cysview solution into the bladder. Cancer cells, if present, will absorb the solution.

Surgical Inspection

Once the solution has been in the bladder for an hour, the surgeon will begin surgery by using a scope to inspect the bladder with a regular white light. The surgeon will repeat the inspection with a blue light to identify bladder cancer cells.

Recovery After the Procedure

Many patients are able to go home after just a short time. Pain or discomfort while urinating is normal for a couple of days, and some patients may notice blood in the urine if bladder tissue was removed.