Fluorescence endoscopy with 5-aminolevulinic acid reduces early recurrence rate in superficial bladder cancer

Purpose: Several investigators have demonstrated an approximately 20% higher tumor detection rate by Ei-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) fluorescence endoscopy compared to standard white light cystoscopy, and suggested a reduction in tumor recurrences when fluorescence endoscopy was performed as standard procedure during transurethral resection. We test this hypothesis. Materials and Methods: In a prospective randomized multicenter study 102 patients underwent transurethral resection of bladder tumor(s) either with white light or ALA fluorescence assisted endoscopy. A second look transurethral resection with ALA fluorescence endoscopy was performed 6 weeks after the initial operation. Results: At second look transurethral resection tumor was detected in 20 of 51 patients (39%) in the white light group and in 8 of 51 (16%) in the ALA fluorescence endoscopy group. This difference was statistically significant (p = 0.005). Conclusions: ALA fluorescence endoscopy is an innocuous and inexpensive diagnostic procedure that significantly improves bladder tumor detection rates compared to standard white light endoscopy. In our controlled study ALA fluorescence endoscopy reduced the residual tumor detection rate at second look transurethral resection by 59%.