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Urine Cytology
A lab tech who is at my primary care physicians office and has been with Labcorp for 9 years gave me a print out on urine cytology and what can affect the results. Certain chemo, radiation can and drug therapy can affect the results. Instrumentation can affect the results – Calculi or recent instrumentation may produce atypical changes in urothelial cells simulating malignancy. Chemotherapy and radiation may also produce changes stimulating neoplasia. A first morning voided specimen is NOT suitable.
Urine cytology results are important to those of us doing watchful waiting rather than immediate surgery on our 3rd or 4th low grade papillary recurrence as low grade does not show in a urine cytology report. Recently, I had a positive for high grade urine cytology report. The first positive I had in 6 1/2 years. Obviously the accuracy of the report was in question. I had another urine cytology test and a complete blood panel done at my primary care physicians office with this very friendly and informative female lab tech. I received the results today.
Negative for malignant cells
Transitional epithelial cells present
Predominately squamous cell presentBlood test were all in normal range.
This test points me to the validity of continuing to do watchful waiting on my papillary recurrence that has been stated by my urlogist as low grade slow growing from cystoscopy inspection. I am also very greatful to Wendy and Doctors O’Donnel and Soloway for their information that gave me recourse. What terrific sources this forum provides for us.
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5 Replies
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Hi Rosie,
My guess is that the tumor causes necrosis, tissue damage/death. Maybe someone else has an appt.. coming up and can ask the uro and let us all know.
Wendy
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Dear Rosie,
I was glad to read that your cytology report was good! Congratulations on that.
Wishing you nothing but clear reports (and that your tumor dries up and disappears!).
Thanks, Wendy from your lips to God’s ears. What does it actually mean if a urologist waits until a G1 bleeds before acting? What does the bleedng indicate in that case? I have not had any bleeding from my 4 recurrences even though I know it was a G1 or G2 and growing slowly. It seems everyone, when first diagnosed, watches anxiously for blood in the urine thinking that would indicate a recurrences. It doesn’t.What does it actually indicate when there is bleeding from known tumor? I still don’t understand that, nor have I experienced it. Can someone explain it to me?
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Dear Rosie,
I was glad to read that your cytology report was good! Congratulations on that.
Wishing you nothing but clear reports (and that your tumor dries up and disappears!).
I remember reading a discussion between experts somewhere, and the doctor said if it were up to them, they would leave TaG1 tumors alone much of the time and wait for symptoms before doing the TUR, but he also said it seems too harsh to just sit and wait for someone to bleed! But that is what many experts would actually prefer for Ta, G1’s, because as you said, the impact of repeated TURs and Tx’s takes a huge toll after many years of it.
I’m a firm believer of staying out of the OR unless it’s absolutely necessary.
Wendy -
Bob, the cells that were seen in my 2nd urine cytology test are cells that are probably in everyone’s urine. The trasitional cells in the lab report doesn’t really relate to a diagnosis of type or grade that I am aware. But, yes, my diagnosis was downgraded to a papillary TA 11/111 from the original diagagnosis 6 1/2 years ago of a “possible” T1a. I did not know as much as I do now about treatments dependant on type, grade and stage so went through 21 treatments of BCG before the original “possible” T1a was downgraded and retested at my request. Again, I want to emphasis to all how important it is to check and recheck tests and diagnosis before proceeding with additional treatments, surgeries that cause more emotional upheavels then necessary. My watchful waiting is based on the long term tests down by Dr. Soloway in Florida and also confirmed by Eurpean Urology of people with my similiar history of 3 to 4 recurrences of confirmed papillary low grade TCC. Watchful waiting is not for everyone but those who have similiar type, grade and history should conside it rather than constant and repeated TURBs, fulgerization or cauterization in my opinon.
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Rosie,
Seems like your “watching and waiting” is the way to go.
The diagnosis of “transitional epithilial cells” sounds like G2. Am I correct?
Bob P
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