Introduction: Nowadays, Hexvix blue light cystoscopy (BLC) represents an increasingly acknowledged diagnostic method for patients with bladder cancer. The aim of our study was to establish the place of this procedure in superficial bladder tumors diagnosis and to compare it with standard white light cystoscopy (WLC).

Material and methods: Between December 2007 and January 2008, WLC and BLC were performed in 20 cases. Transurethral bladder resection (TURB) was performed for all apparent detected lesions. The patients diagnosed with superficial bladder tumors have been followed-up after 3 months by WLC and BLC. The control group included the same number of consecutive patients with superficial bladder tumors, diagnosed only by WLC, which underwent the same treatment and follow-up protocol as the study group.

Results: WLC identified 30 suspicious lesions (28 pathologically confirmed), while BLC identified 41 apparent tumors (39 pathologically confirmed). So, from the total number of 40 tumors with positive histology, WLC correctly diagnosed 70% of them, with a rate of 6.7% false-positive results, while BLC diagnosed 97.5%, however presenting a 4.9% rate of false-positive results. 17 cases of the study group diagnosed with superficial bladder tumors were followed. The tumor recurrence rate after 3 months was 5.9% for the study group and 23.5% for the control group.

Conclusions: Hexvix fluorescence cystoscopy is a valuable diagnostic method, with considerably better results by comparison to WLC. The improved diagnostic may have a significant impact upon the recurrence rate.