What is the gold standard for diagnosing and staging bladder cancer?

Cystoscopy is the gold standard for diagnosing and staging bladder cancer because it allows direct visualization of the bladder's interior. During this procedure, a cystoscope—a thin, lighted tube—is inserted through the urethra into the bladder. This enables the healthcare provider to examine the bladder lining for any abnormal growths, lesions, or tumors, which are critical for establishing a diagnosis. Moreover, cystoscopy facilitates the collection of biopsy samples, providing essential information about the cancer's histology and helping to stage the disease accurately.

In addition to its diagnostic capabilities, cystoscopy is also valuable for monitoring cancer recurrence after treatment. While imaging studies like CT scans can provide information about the extent of bladder cancer, they do not offer the direct visualization and tissue sampling that cystoscopy provides, making it the preferred method in both diagnosis and staging. Other methods such as urine cytology can detect cancer cells but lack the sensitivity and precision of cystoscopy in confirming a diagnosis and determining the extent of the disease.