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Review
. 2001 Jan;39(1):85-90.
doi: 10.1159/000052417.

Small cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder. Presentation of 23 cases and review of 134 published cases

I Trias  1 , F Algaba, E Condom, I Español, J Seguí, I Orsola, H Villavicencio, X García Del Muro
Affiliations
Review

Small cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder. Presentation of 23 cases and review of 134 published cases

I Trias et al. Eur Urol. 2001 Jan.

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the morphological diagnostic criteria and biology of the urinary bladder small cell carcinoma (SCC).

Methods: Study of 23 cases of bladder SCC, looking for the clinical presentation, pathological features and evolution, and review of 134 previously published cases.

Results: The SCC is infrequent (0.48-1%), 50% of them have areas of transitional cell carcinoma, supporting the metaplastic theory. The classic small cell morphology is the best diagnostic criterion. The neurone-specific enolase and chromogranin A are good markers, but not indispensable. An early metastatic incidence (56%) with a high mortality rate (68.7%), mostly before 2 years after the diagnosis, is the typical evolution. Only the patients with additional cis-platinum-based chemotherapy have better prognosis.

Conclusion: The pathologist should watch out for the presence of SCC and the urologist should consider the possibility of combined treatment for these cases.

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