Objectives: Photodynamic diagnosis (PDD) is able to detect dysplasia and transitional cell cancer of the bladder. We report our first experiences using PDD in the urethra. Materials and Methods: Three patients with secondary transitional cell cancer of the urethra were treated by using PDD. 5–Aminolevulinic acid (ALA) was applied in a mixture with lubricant to achieve long enough contact with the urothelium. Negative effects were tested in vitro on three bladder cell lines. Results: In vitro assays showed no enhanced negative effects on the viability of bladder cells using the combination of ALA/lubricant and medium in comparison to lubricant/medium alone. All patients showed markedly fluorescent areas, which were resected. The treatment was well tolerated without side effects attributable to the photosensitizer containing lubricant. Conclusion: Lubricant with ALA forms a viscous solution, which can successfully be used for PDD in the urethra. Thus marking tumors by fluorescence may improve transurethral resection and thus preserve the urethra.

Keywords:
Urethral neoplasm, Urethral tumor recurrence, Bladder neoplasm, Photodynamic diagnosis
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2001
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