Until recently interstitial cystitis was considered a urologic curiosity, a rare problem with relatively specific diagnostic criteria that many urologists would see only once or twice in a decade. This has changed drastically in the last ten years. Interstitial cystitis is now a very controversial subject that has ignited the interest of physicians in general, urologists in particular, basic scientists and even government agencies. It is a potentially much more common and more devastating disorder (or group of disorders) than had been believed. The exponential growth in clinical and basic...