Urine cytology. Part I: urinary tract cytology.

Urinary tract cytology is an excellent means of detecting urinary tract neoplasia. It is not a good localizing technique but is an exceptionally useful diagnostic tool for monitoring high-risk patients. The closer the lesion is to the collecting point, the higher the degree of diagnostic accuracy. Thus, cells from a bladder cancer are more frequently seen than malignant cells from the ureter or renal pelvis. Properly collected urine specimens examined by qualified cytologists can also aid in the diagnosis of infections and inflammatory diseases.