Post-occupational follow-up after exposure to bladder carcinogens (aromatic amines, rubber, dyes)

Urology and andrology · Prevention, screening, pregnancy · updated 2026-10-31

BioMG follows French guidelines. Adapt it to the guidelines and the tests available where you practise.

Frequency: In France, in 2017, about 160 bladder cancers in men (1.5% of cases) were attributable to the painter's trade, 37 to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and 12 to the rubber industry (modelled estimates, figures not additive) ^[1].

Targeted screening: former worker exposed (very high or high risk)

Post-occupational surveillance granted by the health insurance fund (article D461-23 of the French social security code): state this on the request form.

Every 6 months, starting 20 years after the start of exposure

Urine cytology

Detailed explanation and international comparison (in French): read it in English (machine translation)

Also consider

Abnormal urine cytology? Refer to the urologist; the urological work-up is detailed in the page "Hématurie".

Do not order

Urine dipstick (single test for microscopic haematuria) to screen for bladder cancer in an exposed person: not recommended, sensitivity and specificity too low (grade B) ^[2].
Urine cytology combined with a urinary test such as NMP22: cannot be recommended for targeted screening (expert agreement) ^[2].
Fluorescence immunocytochemistry: high cost, few laboratories, not a test of choice for this surveillance (expert agreement) ^[2].

Sources (12)