Is cytology required for a hematuria evaluation?

Purpose: The value of urine cytology in evaluating patients with hematuria remains controversial. The American Urological Association Best Practice Policy on Asymptomatic Microscopic Hematuria recommends cytology only in patients with risk factors for transitional cell carcinoma (TCC). This study evaluated how often urine cytology yielded supportive or unique information that led to the diagnosis of transitional cell carcinoma, the cost of that information and whether it would have been obtained using the current best practice policy. Materials and Methods: Between March 1976 and June 1985, 1,000 sequential patients with 1 episode of gross hematuria or microscopic hematuria, defined as greater than 3 red blood cells per high power field on 2 of 3 properly collected urinalyses, were evaluated according to a standard protocol in a closed panel health care system in the state of Hawaii. These records were reviewed to determine if urine cytology yielded supportive or unique information that led to the diagnosis of TCC. Results: In 4 patients positive urine cytology was the sole finding supporting a TCC diagnosis. Urine cytology had a sensitivity of 55% and a specificity of 99.3%. The cost of a cytology result that yielded unique information was $8,367 using the 2002 Medicare reimbursement schedule. Conclusions: Urine cytology can have an important role in the evaluation of hematuria. The current American Urological Society Best Practice Policy using risk factors to select patients for urine cytology would have captured the 4 patients for whom cytology was the key to diagnosis. Urine cytology was comparable to excretory urography, creatinine and cystoscopy in terms of cost analysis.