Synonyms: malignant tumour cell (CTM) test
Related tests: urothelial cell FISH
Clinical significance
Cells shed from urothelial tumours (i.e. from the cells lining the inside of the bladder, ureters, renal pelvis and urethra) can be detected by microscopic examination of the cells passed in the urine after panoptic staining. This is a screening test (and therefore minimally invasive and inexpensive), but it has a high rate of false negatives (about 50% on average).
When there is a well-founded suspicion of cancer (e.g. blood in the urine) and in patients under surveillance for recurrence (before cystoscopy), it is advisable to look for aneuploidy in urothelial cells using the FISH technique, which, especially when its review phase is automated, reaches a sensitivity of 100%.
Clinical indications
Screening in people at risk (over 40, smokers, workers exposed to paints and solvents).
Sample type
urine
Preparation
Using the special containers provided by the laboratory, urine is collected from three separate voids.