Confocal Laser Endomicroscopy in the Lower Urinary Tract

This is a prospective, multicenter, observational study; the investigators will establish sensitivity and specificity of CLE ex vivo and in vivo, in the diagnosis of bladder carcinoma.

Eligible patients are diagnosed with a bladder tumor at the outpatient clinic and scheduled for transurethral resection of bladder tumor (TURB). In total the investigators want to include 60 patients. Yearly approximately 70 patients are diagnosed with primary and recurrent bladder carcinoma in the Academic Medical Center (AMC) and will undergo TURB.

Their Urologist will inform patients diagnosed with a bladder tumor who will be scheduled for treatment by means of TURB about the study. Information about the study will be provided both orally and in written form.

CLE images are recorded using a probe-based system (Cellvizio 100 series, Mauna Kea Technologies, Paris, France). The probe (Cystoflex UHD-R, Mauna Kea Technologies, Paris, France) has an outer diameter of 2.8 mm, a field of view of 240 µm and has a resolution of 1 µm. Images are collected at a scan rate of 12 frames per second. Using the Cellvizio Viewer system, the investigators can observe mucosal microarchitecture with an increased field of view through mosaic post processing. This system also enables virtual staining of mucosal structures to further enhance tissue contrast.

A fluorescent contrast agent is needed to obtain CLE images. Fluorescein (fluoresceinedisodium, Fresenius Kabi, Zeist, Netherlands), a non-toxic and commonly used fluorescent dye will be administered intravesical (300-400 mL 0.1% fluorescein diluted in saline) and left indwelling for 5 minutes to stain the extracellular matrix.

The study consists of three CLE measurements, one in vivo prior to tumor resection, the second ex vivo of the resected specimen, and the last measurement is ex vivo after fixating the tumor on formaldehyde. In the case of multiple tumors, multiple CLE measurements will be done. The measurement per-operatively will add approximately 15 minutes to operating time. In the ex vivo set up, additional images will be acquired using Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT). During tumor resection, a small chip of normal urothelium will be resected additionally to act as control. Resected bladder tissue will be fixed and laminated by the pathology department, to correlate to CLE images.

Inclusion criteria

• Patients >18 years old
• Bladder tumor(s)
• Candidate for TURB
• Signed informed consent

Exclusion criteria

• Patients <18 years old
• Patients with known allergy for fluorescein
• Possible pregnancy or lactating women
• No signed informed consent