I have all the symptoms of Interstitial Cystitis, but following biopsies I have been told that I do not have IC. How accurate are biopsies in assisting the diagnosis of the condition?
The role of bladder biopsy in Interstitial Cystitis is still open to discussion. Whilst in some cases it is accepted that biopsies are useful in diagnosing IC, they are not truly diagnostic. It is noted that patients with Interstitial Cystitis often have an increased number of mast cells within the bladder itself however, it is well recognised that in a large proportion of patients, IC often does not have these classical features on the biopsy and may not show an increased amount of mast cells. The diagnosis of IC is made on a combination of symptoms exhibited by the patient and the appearances seen when a cystoscopy is carried out with the classical appearances on filling of the bladder. In addition there may be indications of IC when we carry out a Cystometrogram (which is a physiological test on the activity of the bladder) and reduction in the volume of the bladder before a patient exhibits pain. All of these features would help us to make a diagnosis of Interstitial Cystitis. Ther
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