Key Tests That Play a Crucial Role in Accurately Diagnosing GU Cancers

Genitourinary (GU) cancers encompass a group of cancers that affect the urinary system and male reproductive organs. Several tests are used to diagnose GU cancers,  and these tests play a crucial role in the accurate diagnosis and staging of these cancers, enabling healthcare professionals to provide the best treatment recommendations for each patient.

In light of the 2024 ASCO-GU Cancers Symposium, let’s dive into some of the key tests for diagnosing GU cancers:

Imaging Studies

Computed Tomography (CT): A painless procedure that uses X-rays to create detailed cross-sectional images of the body.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI): Uses a magnetic field and radio waves to generate detailed images of the organs and tissues within the body.

Ultrasound: Uses high-frequency sound waves to create images of the inside of the body.

Positron Emission Tomography (PET): A type of nuclear medicine imaging that produces 3D images of functional processes in the body.

Endoscopy

Cystoscopy: A procedure that allows a doctor to view the inside of the bladder and urethra using a thin, lighted instrument called a cystoscope.

Ureteroscopy: Involves the use of a thin, flexible scope to examine the ureter and kidney.

Biopsy

Tissue Biopsy: Involves the removal of a small sample of tissue for examination under a microscope to determine if cancer or other abnormal cells are present.

Molecular Tissue Testing

DNA Analysis: Used to determine tumor-specific genes, proteins, and other characteristics, aiding in the diagnosis and personalized treatment of GU cancers.

Urine Tests

Urine Tumor Marker Tests: Used to detect substances made by cancer cells in the urine, aiding in the diagnosis of bladder and other GU cancers. This test has been known to be the most efficient way to find the cancer, but its accuracy needs ongoing research.

These tests are essential for diagnosing GU cancers and determining the most appropriate treatment plan for each patient. The evolving landscape of diagnostic biomarkers and imaging technologies reflects the ongoing efforts to enhance the precision and effectiveness of GU cancer diagnosis and management.

References:

Diagnosis - bladder cancer - cancers we treat - wilmot cancer institute - university of rochester medical center. Accessed January 19, 2024. https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/cancer-institute/cancers/bladder/diagnosis.aspx#:~:text=The%20urine%20cytology%20test%20is,bladder%20to%20illuminate%20cancer%20cells.

Genitourinary cancers, tests and treatments. Dartmouth Cancer Center. Accessed January 19, 2024. https://cancer.dartmouth.edu/prostate/genitourinary-cancers-tests-treatments.

Genitourinary cancer diagnosis: Genitourinary cancer: UT southwestern medical center. Genitourinary Cancer | UT Southwestern Medical Center. Accessed January 19, 2024. https://utswmed.org/conditions-treatments/genitourinary-cancer/genitourinary-cancer-diagnosis/.

How we diagnose bladder cancer. Dana. Accessed January 19, 2024. https://www.dana-farber.org/cancer-care/types/bladder-cancer/diagnosis.

Merae Alshahrani M. A glance at the emerging diagnostic biomarkers in the most prevalent genitourinary cancers. Saudi journal of biological sciences. April 2022. Accessed January 19, 2024. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9073037/.