The role of narrow-band imaging in the management of non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer

Narrow-band imaging is a young optical enhancement technology for endoscopy. It is a filter to the standard white light which increases the contrast between underlying vasculature and epithelial strata of the mucosa, improving the detection of bladder cancer with particular regard to high grade, flat lesions. Narrow band imaging is absolutely safe, may be used any time during a procedure, either during office cystosopy or transurethral resection, and implies a minimal burden for the healthcare provider given the absence of a learning curve and the limited cost of the camera and light source. The ameliorated detection translates into an improved management of the disease and a lower recurrence risk in prospective randomized studies, suggesting the inclusion of the technology in daily clinical practice.