Exercise: Hematuria

EXERCISE 9-4. HEMATURIA

9-10. Based on the two images from Case 9-10 (Figure 9-29), what is the most likely diagnosis?

A.   Squamous cell carcinoma

B.   Renal stone

C.   Urothelial cell carcinoma

D.   Blood clot

9-11. What would be the recommended next step in the evaluation and management of the lesion in Case 9-11 (Figure 9-30)?

A.         Cystoscopy

B.         Retrograde cystogram

C.         PET/CT

D.         MRI

Radiographic Findings

In Case 9-10, the first image from the excretory phase of a CT urogram (Figure 9-29 A) shows thickening of the mucosal surface (arrow) of the right renal pelvis, compared to the con-tralateral kidney where the wall is imperceptibly thin. On the retrograde pyelogram (Figure 9-29B), the upper pole calyces are irregular in contour, having a “moth-eaten” appearance.

Blood clots are typically intraluminal filling defects (D is incorrect). Although squamous cell carcinoma is a differen-tial consideration, this is much less common than urothelial cell carcinoma. Additionally, clots often are associated with calcifications and recurrent infections (A is incorrect). This lesion is highly suggestive of urothelial cell carcinoma, the most common malignancy of the urinary collecting tract and bladder (C is the correct answer to Question 9-10). Therefore, further urologic evaluation with cystoscopy and ureteroscopy is recommended.

Regarding the patient in Case 9-11, the image taken from a CT scan (Figure 9-30) of the pelvis shows an en-hancing, pedunculated mass (arrow) arising from the ante-rior wall of the urinary bladder. A retrograde cystogram would effectively demonstrate the presence of a bladder mass, but would do little to narrow the differential (B is in-correct). PET/CT can prove useful for the detection of metastatic disease, but is of limited use for evaluating a pri-mary uroepithelial neoplasm because of the presence of FDG in the excreted urine, which can mask lesion uptake (C is incorrect). MRI is coming into use to establish depth of invasion into the bladder wall, but this would be at the dis-cretion of the surgical oncologist following the establish-ment of a diagnosis. The gold standard for evaluation of a known bladder mass is cystoscopy (A is the correct answer to Question 9-11), which allows direct visualization and biopsy for a definitive diagnosis.

Discussion

Urothelial cell carcinoma (formally known as transitional cell carcinoma or TCC) is the most common neoplasm of the urinary tract, and up to 90% of all neoplasms of the bladder itself. Although TCCs can occur anywhere that there is tran-sitional epithelium, from the renal collecting system to the urethra, they are most commonly found in the urinary blad-der. This is felt to be due to several factors, including the large surface area of the bladder. Also, because the bladder acts as a temporary storage site prior to excretion, carcinogens remain in contact with the epithelium of the bladder for a longer period of time than they do with that of the remainder of the urinary tract. TCC is associated with numerous chemical car-cinogens as well as cigarette smoking. Bladder urothelial cell carcinoma usually initially presents with hematuria, which is most commonly microscopic. A TCC can obstruct the vesi-coureteral junction and cause obstructive symptoms as well. TCC of the bladder spreads by local invasion and by lym-phatic and hematogenous spread. Most TCCs are superficial at presentation, with only about 1 in 4 displaying muscle in-vasion and 1 in 20 having distant metastases at the time of diagnosis.

Plain films are most often unremarkable in urothelial carcinoma of the bladder, with less than 1% displaying some stippled calcifications. TCCs can be seen as filling defects in a contrast-filled bladder, particularly when greater than 1 cm in size. Filling defects within the bladder on cystography are somewhat nonspecific, with considerations including tumor, radiolucent stones, fungus balls, and blood clots. However, transitional cell cancers have a characteristic stippled and frondlike appearance. Ultrasound can show ex-ophytic soft-tissue lesion within the bladder. CT urography is the imaging modality of choice for evaluation of possible bladder masses, because the size of the mass itself, as well as the extent of invasion through the bladder wall into adjacent pelvic structures, can be evaluated. The use of urographic phase imaging and reformats allows the detection of even small, sessile lesions in the bladder, ureters, or renal pelvis. CT also allows evaluation of abdominal and pelvic lymph nodes and posttreatment examination for tumor recurrence. MRI can assess depth of bladder tumor invasion, but is not currently routinely used in tumor staging. Although the foregoing imaging findings strongly suggest the diagnosis of TCC, cystoscopy is important to confirm the histologic di-agnosis. Cystoscopy is also indicated when CT urography does not demonstrate a source for hematuria. Other less common tumors of the bladder include malignancies such as squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma, uncom-mon benign lesions, and some masslike manifestations of inflammatory processes.