Objective Bladder cancer (BC) has the highest lifetime treatment costs per patient of all cancers. The high recurrence rate and ongoing invasive monitoring requirement are the key contributors to the economic and human toll of this disease. The purpose of this paper was to utilize the recent literature to identify opportunities for improving the beneWts and costs of BC care. Methods A PubMed search was performed of recent publications concerning (BC) cost-eVectiveness. We reviewed studies, reviews, opinion papers and cost-eVectiveness analyses, focusing primarily on non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (Ta/T1; NMIBC). Results New diagnostic tools such as urine markers may assist in more cost-eVectively detecting BC at an earlier stage, however, these markers cannot replace the cystoscopy, which is the current standard of care. A photodynamic diagnostic tool (PDD) using hexylaminolevulinate (Hexvix ® ) enhances tumor visibility and improves transurethral resection of bladder cancer (TURB) results, potentially reducing recurrence rates and lowering treatment costs. While the importance of BC research has been acknowledged, research investment has been continuously reduced during the last 5 years. Conclusions The economic burden of BC is well-characterized in the literature. This study suggests that new technologies (i.e., urine-based tests, PDD) and therapeutic regimes (intravesical chemotherapy, adjuvant immunotherapy) have signiWcant potential to improve the diagnosis, treatment and on-going monitoring of BC patients, with potential improvements in clinical outcomes and concurrent cost-savings. A renewed interest and investment in BC research are required to ensure future advancements.

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ERBT is safe and reliable regardless of the energy source and provides high-quality resections of tumors >1 cm. Recurrence rates did not differ between groups, and the majority of recurrences occurred outside the ERBT resection field.

IRP increase remains a neglected predictor of upper tract endourology complications and its intraoperative monitoring should be taken into consideration. Further research is necessary, to quantify pressures generated during upper tract endourology, and introduce means of controlling them.

Omitting DCE did not lead to significant differences in diagnostic accuracy or tumor detection rates when using the PI-RADS 2 scoring system. According to these data, it seems reasonable to use a biparametric approach for initial routine prostate MRI. This could decrease examination time and reduce costs without significantly lowering the diagnostic accuracy.

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