What should you know about fluorescence cystoscopy?

A clinician places a light-sensitive substance into the bladder, allowing selected abnormal-looking lining cells to stand out under a particular wavelength of light. A thin cystoscope is then passed through the urinary passage into the bladder. The clinician examines the lining using ordinary white light and fluorescence, comparing what is seen in each view.

The technique can help identify subtle areas that are difficult to distinguish with white light alone. A highlighted area is not automatically cancer. Irritation, recent procedures, infection, or other changes can affect the appearance, so tissue sampling and laboratory examination may still be needed to establish a diagnosis.

Follow the instructions about eating, drinking, medicines, and urine testing provided by the clinic. Tell the team about blood-thinning medicines, allergies, urinary symptoms, and previous reactions to procedures. Afterward, mild burning or a small amount of blood in the urine can occur for a short time. Drink fluids if your clinician says this is suitable, and follow any instructions about activity and medicines.

Contact the clinic if burning or bleeding does not settle, urination becomes difficult, or you develop worsening pelvic pain, fever, chills, or cloudy and foul-smelling urine. Seek urgent help for inability to pass urine, heavy bleeding, severe pain, faintness, or breathing difficulty. These symptoms require clinical assessment and should not be explained by the test alone.

Ask which marker and light will be used, whether you need anaesthesia, whether a biopsy or treatment may happen during the same visit, when results will be ready, and which symptoms should prompt a call after you leave.