BLADDER CANCER: CURRENT DIAGNOSTIC METHODS AND CRITERIA

Abstract

Bladder cancer is the most common malignant neoplasm of the genitourinary tract, presenting significant diagnostic challenges due to clinical heterogeneity and the limitations of conventional methods. The current gold standard, which combines cystoscopy and urinary cytology, is invasive and has low sensitivity for low-grade tumors and flat lesions. This narrative review of the literature analyzes contemporary diagnostic strategies and technological advances in the field. The results indicate that improved imaging techniques, such as blue light cystoscopy, Narrow-Band Imaging (NBI), and the use of the VI-RADS system in magnetic resonance imaging, increase the accuracy of tumor detection and staging. In addition, the development of noninvasive liquid biopsies, through the analysis of circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) in blood and genetic mutations (such as TERT and FGFR3) in urine, shows great promise for early diagnosis and monitoring of recurrence. The application of nanotechnology and the recognition of aggressive histological variants also emerge as crucial factors for prognosis and clinical management.