Cutaneous Metastasis of Bladder Cancer: A Systematic Review

Abstract

Bladder cancer is one of the main causes of urogenital cancer (30-35% of the total urological cancers). Although metastases from urologic tumors are rare, it is associated with a high mortality rate. The location and pattern of metastasis are random and unpredictable. A literature search was done, and a total of 49 studies published from 1949 to 2021 were included. All published studies were case reports. A total number of 59 patients were included: 50 men and nine women. Multiple types of bladder cancer were described, 72.8% were urothelial/transitional cell carcinoma of different grades and stages (n=43). Other reported cancers were adenocarcinoma of the bladder (n=4), poorly differentiated carcinoma (n=5), bladder sarcoma (n=1), sarcomatoid carcinoma (n=1), renal cell carcinoma (n=1), myeloid sarcoma (n=1), and grade III papillary carcinoma (n=2). The most common site for cutaneous lesions was the abdomen, followed by the chest. Further randomized cohort studies assessing the sites and patterns of metastasis should be done to help physicians in their clinical work.

Keywords: bladder cancer; bladder metastasis; cutaneous metastasis; upper urinary tract cancer; uro oncology.