VI-RADS for the diagnosis and management of urinary bladder cancer

The rising incidence of bladder cancer, shortage of medical experts, and lack of financial resources has become a challenge for global public health systems. Bladder cancer is categorized mainly into non-muscle invasive (NMIBC) and muscle-invasive (MIBC) disease, considering detrusor muscle infiltration, which affects dramatically therapeutic planning. NMIBC, accounting for 2/3 of patients presenting with bladder cancer, are highly recurrent tumors that are managed with a strict monitoring schedule with cystoscopy – for the assessment of the bladder - and CT-urography – for the assessment of the upper urothelial tract -, given the risk of progression to muscleinvasive stage up to 50% [4]. To ease the global burden of this disease, the scientific community and policy makers has highlighted the need to identify less invasive and more affordable diagnostic and therapeutic pathways for both primary and recurring bladder tumors. Imaging can represent the game changer for the management of bladder cancer.