Why it's done

Urine cytology is used with other tests and procedures to diagnose cancers of the urinary tract, including:

• Bladder cancer
• Cancer of the ureter
• Cancer of the urethra

It's generally used for people who have signs or symptoms of urinary tract cancer, such as blood in the urine.

Urine cytology can best detect larger and more-aggressive urinary tract cancers. It might not detect small urinary tract cancers that grow more slowly.