Innovative Technology Improves Detection of Bladder Cancer

Blue Light Cystoscopy Detects Bladder Tumors More Easily than Standard Technique

Washington, D.C., July 19, 2016 – MedStar Washington Hospital Center now offers Blue Light Cystoscopy with Cysview®, a new, FDA-approved technology used to pinpoint bladder tumors in patients with known or suspected bladder cancer.

“Detecting bladder cancer in its earliest stage is sometimes difficult, and an inaccurate diagnosis can result in incomplete treatment, which translates into the potential for cancer progression and delays in treatment,” said Lambros Stamatakis, MD, director of Urologic Oncology at MedStar Washington Hospital Center. “Blue Light Cystoscopy with Cysview can provide a more accurate diagnosis of bladder tumors compared to the standard technique, which can overlook some tumors that are too small to see.”

In Blue Light Cystoscopy, a patient is given a solution that is absorbed by the cancerous tissue. Using special equipment that emits “blue light,” hard-to-see tumors will fluoresce and stand out against normal bladder tissue, making it easier for the doctor to identify and remove them. The new technology also allows physicians to more accurately counsel patients on the extent of their disease, which helps to determine the next step in treatment.

“The availability of Blue Light Cystoscopy is in keeping with our commitment to advancing patient care,” added Dr. Stamatakis. “Patients with known or suspected bladder cancer can now undergo this specialized diagnostic procedure with the hope of better identifying their sites of disease and eliminating them.”

Bladder cancer is the fifth most commonly diagnosed cancer in the United States. The American Cancer Society estimates about 74,000 new cases are diagnosed each year.  The Bladder Cancer Advocacy Network says between 50 to 80 percent of patients will have their bladder cancer recur, making it one of the highest recurrence rates of any form of cancer.

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MedStar Washington Hospital Center is a 926-bed, major teaching and research hospital. It is the largest private, not-for-profit hospital in the nation’s capital, among the 100 largest hospitals in the nation and a major referral center for treating the most complex cases. U.S.News & World Report consistently ranks the hospital’s cardiology and heart surgery program as one of the nation’s best. It also is a respected top facility in the areas of cancer, diabetes & endocrinology, Ear, Nose & Throat, gastroenterology & GI surgery, geriatrics, gynecology, nephrology, pulmonology and urology. It operates MedSTAR, a nationally-verified level I trauma center with a state-of-the-art fleet of helicopters and ambulances, and also operates the region’s only adult Burn Center.