[Usefulness of Photodynamic Diagnosis in High-Grade Bladder Cancer and Subsequent BCG Failure. Bibliographic Review.]

OBJECTIVES: Bladder tumors are the second highest incidence urological tumor in the adult population. In recent years, new techniques such as photadynamic diagnosis have arisen in order to improve the sensitivity for the detection of non muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC). We intend to update the role of photoa'ynamic diagnosis in the diagnosis of NMIBC, in cases refractory to BCG and as a treatment in the recurrent bladder cancer. MATERIAL AND METHOD: We performed a descriptive study and bibliographic review on the usefulness of photodynamic diagnosis in NMIBC, early recurrence and refractoriness to BCG published in the universal medical literature. RESULTS: Photodynamic cystoscopy increases the detection sensitivity for NMIBC, especially carcinoma in situ (CIS) from 15% to 30% according to the different series published. Regarding high-grade bladder cancer recurrence, photodynamic therapy increases disease-free time in 20% of patients. In the use of photodynamic techniques for the detection of CIS after BCG, studies indicate an increase in sensitivity with an increase in the rate of false positives. CONCLUSION: Photodynamic diagnosis could improve sensitivity for the early detection of patients with CIS and/or T1G3. May be, at the same time, an alternative in the recurrence of bladder cancer, especially CIS.