UHC Adopts Innovative Imaging Agent to Improve Detection of Certain Bladder Cancers

Blue Light Cystoscopy (BLC™) with Cysview® may detect certain bladder cancer tumors more than the use of standard diagnostic technology. UHC is the only medical center in North Central West Virginia and Southwestern Pennsylvania offering this technology.

Bladder cancer is the sixth most commonly diagnosed cancer in the United States. The American Cancer Society estimates that 81,190 new cases of bladder cancer are diagnosed in the U.S. each year. Up to 50% of patients will have their bladder cancer recur — that’s the highest recurrence rate of any form of cancer.

“Bladder cancer is difficult to detect and has a high rate of recurrence. An inaccurate diagnosis can result in incomplete treatment, which may lead to serious complications and a lower chance of survival for patients with potentially aggressive tumors,” noted Grant Franklin, MD, Urology Specialist at UHC. “Blue Light Cystoscopy with Cysview represents an important advancement in diagnostic technology, enabling more accurate diagnosis of non-muscle invasive bladder tumors compared to the standard technique.”

White light cystoscopy has long been the gold standard for detecting suspicious lesions during transurethral resection of bladder tumor procedures. Often bladder cancer lesions are hard to see and can be missed.

Now the gold standard is becoming BLC with Cysview. For BLC, Cysview is placed into the bladder using a catheter about an hour prior to the cystoscopy. After first using white light, the doctor will switch to blue light mode. Because Cysview makes the cancer cells glow bright fluorescent pink in blue light, the doctor can more easily identify and remove tumors.

“The availability of Blue Light Cystoscopy with Cysview is in keeping with our commitment to advancing patient care,” said Franklin.

“At UHC Urology patients with known or suspected bladder cancer can now undergo diagnostic procedures performed by physicians who have been specially trained in the use of this innovative technology.”

For more information call 800-607-8888 or visit wvurology.com

Left Image: Bladder image using white light cystoscopy / Right Image: Same image using BLC with Cysview.

 

 

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