Blue Light Cystoscopy

Improving the Diagnosis of Bladder Cancer

Our patients benefit from an innovative diagnostic technology called Blue Light cystoscopy with Cysview®. Blue light cystoscopy greatly improves on the traditional white light cystoscopy because blue light technology allows the urologist to visualize more cancer tumors within the bladder.

What Is Cystoscopy?

Cystoscopy involves the insertion of a small optic instrument or thin tube (cystoscope) with a lighted tip into the urethra and bladder, allowing the urologist to examine the urethra and bladder wall for suspicious lesions. If a tumor is found in the bladder during this diagnostic imaging exam, your urologist can perform the removal of the lesion.

​What is Blue Light Cystoscopy?

​Traditionally, white light cystoscopy has been the “gold standard” for diagnosing bladder cancer. However, this diagnostic tool has limitations. While white light does highlight abnormalities in the bladder, this light can miss the harder to see tumors. Now, utilizing blue light technology, these limitations in detecting hard to see tumors are overcome. Blue light cystoscopy is used for patients suspected or known to have a certain kind of bladder cancer called non-muscle invasive papillary bladder cancer.

​Blue light cystoscopy uses innovative imaging techniques that help urologists find bladder tumors more easily than standard cystoscopy utilizing blue light technology.

How Blue Light Cystoscopy Works

• Cysview® is an imaging solution that is delivered directly into your bladder and is absorbed by the cancerous tissue.
• After the solution has had time to be absorbed by the bladder tissue (typically about one hour before your procedure), your urologist will perform the cystoscopy using specialized imaging equipment. The long thin tube (cystoscope) is inserted through the urethra (the tube that carries urine from the bladder outside of your body) and into the bladder.
• The cystoscopy is usually done under IV or general anesthesia in the hospital as it is commonly performed with a biopsy or resection.
• Your doctor looks through the tube with a white light, and then a blue light. The blue light enables the Cysview solution to highlight tumors and make them more visible. The solution highlights tumors by turning them bright pink or red under the blue light.
• If any suspicious legions are found, your doctor can then remove cells for further testing to confirm a diagnosis of bladder cancer.