Recent advances in optical imaging technologies for the detection of bladder cancer.

White-light cystoscopy (WLC) is the diagnostic standard for the detection of bladder cancer (BC). However, the detection of small papillary and subtle flat carcinoma in situ lesions is not always possible with WLC. Several adjunctive optical imaging technologies have been developed to improve BC detection and resection. Photodynamic diagnosis, which requires the administering of a photoactive substance, has a higher detection rate than WLC for the detection of BC. Narrow-band imaging provides better visualization of tumors by contrast enhancement between normal mucosa and well-vascularized lesions. A technology called confocal laser endomicroscopy can be used to obtain detailed images of tissue structure. Optical coherence tomography is a high-resolution imaging process that enables noninvasive, real-time, and high-quality tissue images. Several other optical imaging technologies are also being developed to assist with the detection of BC. In this review, we provide an overview of the strengths and weaknesses of these imaging technologies for the detection of BC.