Diagnosis and Therapy Using Light (Fluorescence) for Bladder Cancer

Bladder cancer, also known as urological cancer, is the 10th most common cancer in the world. The incidence of this cancer is steadily increasing, especially in well-developed countries. The frequent occurrence of the disease and its susceptibility to recurrence and progression despite treatment significantly burdens healthcare systems. A more modern advancement of the gold standard in diagnostics is fluorescence cystoscopy and imaging using a narrow light beam. White light cystoscopy requires the use of a photosensitizer, allowing for more precise visualization of changes within the mucous membrane. An alternative method is narrow-band imaging, which relies on limiting the spectrum of light illuminating the tissue, enabling the use of differences in light absorption by hemoglobin. Two wavelengths are used for this purpose: 415 nm and 540 nm. Diagnostics using photodynamics is considered the most precise method for imaging cancerous tissues. However, despite diagnostic techniques' high effectiveness and widespread availability, their use is limited because only selected tissues and organs are suitable for imaging with diagnostic light. Experience gained over many years of using fluorescence-based methods would allow for the detection of bladder cancer in its early stages, which are often overlooked even by modern tests.