Can a abdomen cat scan diagnose bladder cancer

10 years 2 months ago #45714 by sara.anne
Replied by sara.anne on topic Can a abdomen cat scan diagnose bladder cancer
CT scan can show tumors, but may not find all of them, particularly in the bladder. It is just ONE of the diagnostic tools used. If there is a suspicion of bladder cancer, whether found on a CT scan or not, a TURB (transurethral biopsy of the bladder) is necessary to determine IF the abnormality is cancer, and, if so, the stage and grade.

Often a CT scan is done AFTER the TURB has shown the presence of cancer in the bladder to determine if there are any tumors in the upper urinary tract/kidneys.

Sara Anne

Diagnosis 2-08 Small papillary TCC; CIS
BCG; BCG maintenance
Vice-President, American Bladder Cancer Society
Forum Moderator

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10 years 2 months ago #45711 by rbmc
My opinion, if there are any suspicions, do the cystoscopy.

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10 years 2 months ago #45709 by Rockyiss
Replied by Rockyiss on topic Can a abdomen cat scan diagnose bladder cancer
I had a ct scan that they said was read as ok, no sign of a problem in the bladder . Several days later the uro did a cysto and saw five small tumors. I had them taken out . Couple of years later was getting more scans and ask the guy reading them if my originals were read wrong ? He pulled them up looked at them ( I was looking at them also ) and told me they were read right ,the tumors were not showing up. That was the last time I trusted a cat scan.
I am not a dr but my advice, err on the side of caution and get the scope done . It is worth it for the piece of mind . Rocky

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10 years 2 months ago #45658 by Alan
Catherine is also correct that flat CIS lesions probably won't show (something I had forgotten about as I didn't have CIS) thus the need for a cystoscope also. Reading the kidneys is also important.

DX 5/6/2008 TAG3 papillary tumor .5 CM in size. 2 TURBS followed by 6 instillations of BCG weekly with a second round of 6 after a 6 week wait.

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10 years 2 months ago #45656 by marip
I was having abdomen pains and bowel and bladder problems. I had a cat scan done and it shows bladder was clear, a thicken colon wall and a rare inflammatory condition called mesenteric panniculitis. There's a lot of conditions that can cause mesentric panniculitis some serious and some not so serious. Bladder cancer can also cause mesenteric panniculitis. l will be seeing a GI soon. I wasn't too sure if a cat scan can see bladder cancer that well.

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10 years 2 months ago #45655 by CatherineH
Replied by CatherineH on topic Can a abdomen cat scan diagnose bladder cancer
I would say depending on the size of a tumor, a CT scan is very dependable in tumor detection. It could miss some BC for example CIS (carcinoma insitu) which is flat along the bladder lining. That is why it is very important that a cystoscopy be done also so the uro can see directly inside the bladder as well.

More specifically, a pelvic CT scan would look at the bladder area and an abdominal scan hits from around the naval to the base of the lungs. I have been scanned 5 times now at approximately yearly intervals. The first time was to confirm my diagnosis and clearly showed a tumor that was approx. 2/3 inch. Then yearly afterwards I've had a pelvic/abdominal CT scan with and without contrast to look for any new tumors or mets outside the bladder. Luckily so far so good.

Also remember that not all abdominal tumors are cancer. Does your doctor suspect bladder cancer? Please feel free to post any other questions you might have. And welcome to our forum...

Best wishes... Catherine

TURBT 1/21/10 at age 55
Dx: T2aN0M0 Primary Bladder Adenocarcinoma
Partial Cystectomy 2/25/10
Vanderbilt Medical Center
Nashville, TN

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