Note: Separate PDQ summaries on Bladder Cancer Treatment and Levels of Evidence for Cancer Screening and Prevention Studies are also available.

Benefits

There is inadequate evidence to determine whether screening for bladder and other urothelial cancers would have any impact on mortality.

Description of the Evidence

• STUDY DESIGN: There are no studies that directly address this question.
• INTERNAL VALIDITY: N/A.
• CONSISTENCY: N/A.
• MAGNITUDE OF EFFECTS ON HEALTH OUTCOMES: N/A.
• EXTERNAL VALIDITY: N/A.

Harms

Based on fair evidence, screening for bladder and other urothelial cancers would result in unnecessary diagnostic procedures with attendant morbidity.

Description of the Evidence

• STUDY DESIGN: Opinions of respected authorities based on clinical experience, descriptive studies, or reports of expert committees.
• INTERNAL VALIDITY: N/A.
• CONSISTENCY: N/A.
• MAGNITUDE OF EFFECTS ON HEALTH OUTCOMES: Good evidence for rare harms.
• EXTERNAL VALIDITY: N/A.