PREDICTIVE VALUE OF URINE CYTOLOGY IN THE DIAGNOSIS OF UROTHELIAL TUMORS

Between November 1991 and June 1993, 315 patients with urethral lesion s were divided into two groups : group 1 included 215 patients with ur ethral tumours and group 2 included 100 patients with non-tumoural les ions. In all patients, urethral smears (per formed on 3 consecutive da ys), pyelography and uretrocystoscopy (with bladder biopsy of observab le lesions) were performed in all. The sensitivity of urine cytology e xaminations in the diagnosis of by 80 % with a specificity of 90 %. Th e positive predictive value was 94.5 % and the negative predictive val ue 67.7 %. Urine cytology agreed with the diagnosis of urethral tumour s especially well in advanced stage ulcerated tumours. These results u nderline the importance of cytology examinations in the exploration an d follow-up of patients with urethral tumours.