-IBIS-1.5.0-
tx
urinary system
bladder cancer
diagnoses
definition and etiology
definition:
Malignancy of the urinary bladder.
etiology:
In the US, there are 40,000 new cases of bladder cancer a year, and 11,000 deaths/year due to the disease. It is occurs more frequently in males, and usually seen in patients over 40 years old. Known carcinogens to the bladder include:
Aniline dyes: In cigarettes, dyes, rubber processing, and chemical industries (associated with transitional tumors, the most common type).
Chronic irritation: e.g. from schistosoma (associated with squamous cell carcinoma).
signs and symptoms
signs and symptoms:
Hematuria: gross and microscopic.
Dysuria.
Frequency.
Urgency.
Pain: if there is infection or invasion.
Palpable suprapubic mass in the later stages.
lab findings:
Filling defects of the bladder during cystogram or in the cystographic portion of the IVP.
(+) urinary cytology for malignancy.
Diagnosis is by cytoscopy and biopsy.
CT scan or ultrasound for staging.
course and prognosis
Squamous cell carcinoma is highly invasive and offers the poorest prognosis. Conventional treatment is by removal of the tumor and/or part or all of the bladder. Recurrences are common.
differential diagnosis
Urinary tract infection.
Idiopathic recurrent renal hematuria.
footnotes