Bladder cancer overview

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Steven C. Campbell, M.D., Ph.D.

Overview

Bladder cancer refers to any of several types of malignant growths of the urinary bladder. It is a disease in which abnormal cells multiply without control in the bladder. The bladder is a hollow, muscular organ that stores urine; it is located in the pelvis. The most common type of bladder cancer begins in cells lining the inside of the bladder and is called urothelial cell or transitional cell carcinoma (UCC or TCC).

Classification

Bladder cancer may be classified according to cell types into several subtypes: transitional cell carcinomas, squamous cell carcinomas, adenocarcinomas, small cell carcinoma, lymphoma, and sarcoma.

Pathophysiology

Genes involved in the pathogenesis of bladder cancer include HRAS, Rb1, PTEN/MMAC1, NAT2, and GSTM1. On gross pathology, flat lesions or papillary lesions are characteristic findings of non-invasive transitional cell carcinomas; a large infiltrative mass or a multifocal, flat to papillary lesion with delicate fronds are characteristic findings of invasive transitional cell carcinomas. On microscopic histopathological analysis, loss of cell polarity, nuclear crowding, and cytologic atypia are characteristic findings of flat lesion; fibrovascular stalks, umbrella cells, and eosinophilic cytoplasm are characteristic findings of papillary lesion; invasion beyond the basement membrane is the characteristic finding of invasive transitional cell carcinomas.

Causes

There are no established causes for bladder cancer.

Differential Diagnosis

Bladder cancer must be differentiated from renal cancer, renal stones, prostate cancer, and cystitis.

Epidemiology and Demographics

The prevalence of bladder cancer is approximately 130.5 per 100,000 individuals in the United States. The incidence of bladder cancer is approximately 20.3 per 100,000 individuals in the United States. The incidence of bladder cancer increases with age; the median age at diagnosis is 73 years. Males are more commonly affected with bladder cancer than females. Bladder cancer usually affects individuals of the white race. African American, Asian, and Hispanic individuals are less likely to develop bladder cancer.

Risk Factors

Common risk factors in the development of bladder cancer are smoking, occupational exposure to chemicals, chronic bladder irritation, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, arsenic, personal history of cancer in the urinary tract, congenital bladder anomalies, and aristolochic acids.

Screening

According to the the U.S. Preventive Service Task Force (USPSTF), there is insufficient evidence to recommend routine screening for bladder cancer.

Natural History, Complications and Prognosis

Common complications of bladder cancer include metastasis, anemia, hydronephrosis, urethral stricture, and urinary incontinence. Prognosis is generally good, and the 5-year survival rate is approximately 77.4%. The prognosis varies with the stages of tumor; carcinoma in situ have the most favorable prognosis.

History and Symptoms

The most common symptoms of bladder cancer include hematuria, urinary frequency , urinary urgency, difficulty urinating, and dysuria.