Small cell carcinoma of the bladder. Report of a new case and review of the literature

• Published in: Actas urologicas españolas Vol. 26; no. 10; pp. 811 - 815
• Main Authors: Muñoz Vélez, D, García-Miralles Gravalos, R, Amengual Antich, I, Benejam Gual, J M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Spanish
• Published: Spain 01.11.2002
• Subjects: Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Carcinoma, Small Cell - drug therapy; Carcinoma, Small Cell - pathology; Humans; Male; Urinary Bladder Neoplasms - drug therapy; Urinary Bladder Neoplasms - pathology
• ISSN: 0210-4806; 1699-7980

Small cell carcinoma of the bladder is a rare entity occurring in fewer than 1% of all the primary bladder tumors. Its clinic and epidemiologyc characteristics are similar to the transitional cell carcinoma. But, its more aggressive with a high tendency to infiltrate the muscular layer and to metastasize. Thus, therapeutic approach used by the pulmonary form has been applied to the bladder carcinoma. The best results has been achieved using systemic chemotherapy, not only in survival rates but in preserving the bladder integrity, playing the radical cystectomy a rescue role in cases of recurrence or persistence of the tumor. We report a new case of small cell carcinoma of the bladder and review the literature with special attention to the different therapeutic approaches.