Extensive cutaneous metastasis of transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder

Cutaneous metastasis of bladder carcinoma is extremely rare. Iatrogenic implantations have been the main cause in the majority of cases of transitional cell carcinoma with cutaneous metastasis. Otherwise, primary cutaneous metastasis is accepted as the late manifestation of systemic spread. The present paper describes a case of relatively early and extensive skin metastasis of transitional cell carcinoma in a 78-year-old man. The patient had a histopathological diagnosis of poorly differentiated (grade III) muscle invasive transitional cell carcinoma with a staging of T2NOMO 6 months prior to presenting. He presented to our outpatient clinic with a 3-month history of skin lesions as multiple, rubbery subcutaneous nodules. Radiological reinvestigation revealed no other metastatic site (including bone and lung), except for a metastatic nodule in the liver. The present paper reports an interesting and rare case of extensive skin metastasis of transitional cell carcinoma as the primary complaint.     

Micropapillary variant of transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder

A 77-year-old man visited the Kobe City General Hospital complaining of macroscopic hematuria. A computed tomography scan found a bladder tumor with left iliac and para-aortic lymph node metastasis. Two courses of cisplatin, cyclophosphamide and doxorubicin chemotherapy resulted in a minimal response. Radical cystectomy and a retroperitoneal lymph node dissection with bilateral ureterocutaneostomy reconstruction were then performed. A pathological examination revealed a micropapillary variant of transitional cell carcinoma (Grade 3, pT1pN2M1). The patient died of pelvic recurrence 7 months after the initiation of chemotherapy. Peritonitis carcinomatosa and lung metastases were observed at autopsy.     

Cardiac metastasis from a transitional cell carcinoma diagnosed by two-dimensional echocardiography

We report a rare case of symptomatic cardiac metastasis from a transitional cell carcinoma of the renal pelvis. A 57-year-old man presented with severe anemia, inflammation, hypoxemia and disseminated intravascular coagulation. Computed tomography revealed a large tumor in the left renal pelvis with multiple lymph node metastases. Two-dimensional echocardiography revealed large tumors in the right ventricle. The patient suddenly died because of the obstructive mass of the right ventricular outflow tract. Histopathological examination showed high-grade transitional cell carcinoma in the left renal pelvis and the right ventricle. There are only three cases of cardiac metastases from a transitional cell carcinoma reported in the literature.     

Solitary cerebellar metastasis from transitional cell carcinoma of bladder.

Brain metastasis from transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder is unusual, occurring most often in the presence of widespread systemic metastases. We report on a patient who presented with an isolated cerebellar metastasis and recurrent carcinoma of the bladder, after treatment with local excision and intravesical thiotepa. Further evaluation failed to demonstrate other distant metastases. Excision of the cerebellar lesion revealed transitional cell carcinoma identical to the original bladder tumor. In a review of the literature, we found reports of two similar patients in whom a solitary cerebellar lesion was the first sign of metastasis from carcinoma of the bladder; neither patient had evidence of other distant metastases, and neither previously had received systemic chemotherapy. These observations indicate that central nervous system metastasis from carcinoma of the bladder, while rare, should be considered in the differential diagnosis of solitary intracerebellar lesions in such patients.     

Penile metastasis arising from transitional cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder

Metastatic spread of transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder to the penis is very rare. We present 1 such case in a 63-year-old man that was treated by total penectomy and adjuvant systemic chemotherapy.     

Brain metastases from bladder carcinoma: presentation, treatment and survival

PURPOSE: We report the presentation of brain metastases from bladder carcinoma. We investigated the role of whole brain radiation therapy for treating this disease. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between January 1982 and November 1999, 16 patients with brain metastases from bladder carcinoma were treated at our institution. We reviewed patient and tumor characteristics at the time of the primary diagnosis and the brain metastasis diagnosis. We analyzed treatment results in regard to survival and local metastasis control. RESULTS: Brain metastases from bladder carcinoma were commonly accompanied by uncontrolled systemic metastases. Multiple brain lesions developed in 14 of the 16 patients. Of the 16 patients 14 received radiation therapy with or without surgery, 1 was treated surgically and 1 did not receive any treatment. The 11 patients treated with whole brain radiation therapy had a median survival of only 2 months (range 0.5 to 11). A patient who received stereotactic radiosurgery survived 12 months after the brain metastasis diagnosis and 2 treated with radiation therapy after surgery survived 12.75 and 2.75 months, respectively (median 7.75). The patient treated with surgery alone survived 1.25 months after the brain metastasis diagnosis and 1 who received no treatment survived 1.75 months. Patients with multiple brain metastases had shorter survival than those with a single metastasis. CONCLUSIONS: Overall survival after brain metastasis development in patients with bladder carcinoma was poor. Although the number of patients in this study was small, results indicate that radiation therapy alone is inadequate treatment. Therefore, when possible, we advocate more effective treatment by combining radiation therapy with other treatment modalities, as recommended in ongoing clinical trials.     

Case report – Cutaneous metastasis from a primary transitional cell carcinoma of prostate

International Urology and Nephrology -     

基质金属蛋白酶血清含量与膀胱移行细胞癌浸润转移的关系

目的探讨基质金属蛋白酶-2（MMP-2）和基质金属蛋白酶-9（MMP-9）的血清含量与膀胱移行细胞癌侵袭转移的关系。方法采用酶联免疫吸附试验（ELISA）对46例膀胱移行细胞癌患者血清中的MMP-2及MMP-9进行测定,并与18例正常血清进行对照分析。结果膀胱移行细胞癌患者同正常对照组比较,血清中MMP-2和MMP-9含量均显著增高（P〈0.000）,血清中MMP-2和MMP-9含量随着临床分期的升高均有显著性增高（P〈0.0000）,膀胱癌组织学Ⅱ、Ⅲ级患者血清中MMP-2和MMP-9含量明显高于I级（P〈0.0000）,但两者间比较无显著性差异（P〉0.05）。站论MMPs与膀胱移行细胞癌的发生、发展及侵袭转移密切相关,MMPs血清学测定可作为判断膀胱肿瘤预后的指标之一。     

Metastatic cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma of the scalp

Background: Metastatic cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma arising from the scalp, although relatively uncommon, is associated with a poor outcome. Older men with a history of baldness and actinic scalp lesions are particularly at risk. Methods: Between 1980 and 2005, 27 patients with metastatic cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma of the scalp were referred to the Head and Neck Cancer Service at Westmead Hospital, Sydney. Relevant data were extracted from a prospectively maintained database. Patterns of recurrence and outcome were analysed. Results: Median age at diagnosis was 70 years and median follow up was 45 months in 26 men and one woman. Ten primary (index) lesions were located on the midline scalp, 14 left sided and 3 right sided. Median lesion size was 18 mm and median thickness was 5.5 mm. The median time between treatment of the scalp primary and the development of nodal metastases was 8 months. In 10 patients, nodal metastases were present at the time of primary treatment. Fifteen patients developed parotid metastases (+cervical nodes in 7 of 15) and 12 developed cervical only metastases (5 of 12 level V). All patients underwent nodal surgery and most (75%) also received adjuvant radiotherapy. At the last follow up, 41% of patients had died from their disease. Median survival after relapse was 9 months and all patients experiencing relapse died with most (11 of 13) dying from metastatic disease. Conclusion: Patients with metastatic cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma of the scalp have a poor prognosis with most dying from regional relapse. Those treated with surgery and adjuvant radiotherapy had a better outcome.     

Orbital metastasis,by transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder

We report a new case of a patient with transitional cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder and a solitary metastasis to the orbita. A review of the literature shows two cases described previously. This case is interesting for the clinical features and evolution.     

T1G3 transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder: recurrence, progression and survival

OBJECTIVES: To report our experience with T1G3 bladder tumours over the last 10 years. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We analysed the outcome of 74 consecutive patients treated for a T1G3 bladder cancer between 1991 and 2001. Fifty-seven patients (77%) were treated with transurethral resection (TUR) plus six weekly instillations of bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) therapy. Ten patients (13.5%) with contraindications to BCG or with a small T1a tumour were treated with TUR plus mitomycin-C, and seven (9.5%) were treated with TUR alone because of their age. Patients treated with BCG had systematic biopsies taken at the end of the first course. Patients with residual tumour received a second course of six weekly instillations. Patients with negative biopsies received maintenance BCG therapy consisting of intravesical instillations each week for 3 weeks given 3, 6, 12, 18, 24, 30 and 36 months after the first course. RESULTS: The median follow-up was 53 months. The overall recurrence rate was 46% and the overall progression rate 19%. The rate of delayed cystectomy was 8% and that of disease-specific survival 91%. In patients who received BCG therapy, the recurrence and progression rates were 42% and 23%, respectively. In this group the rate of disease-specific survival was 88%. CONCLUSION: This study confirms that maintenance BCG therapy is an effective treatment for T1G3 bladder tumours, with an acceptable rate of bladder preservation.     

Clinical outcomes following radical cystectomy for primary nontransitional cell carcinoma of the bladder compared to transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder

PURPOSE: The effect of bladder cancer histological subtypes other than transitional cell carcinoma (nonTCC) on clinical outcomes remains uncertain. We conducted a multi-institutional retrospective study of patients with bladder cancer treated with radical cystectomy to assess the impact of nonTCC histology on bladder cancer specific outcomes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 955 consecutive patients underwent radical cystectomy with bilateral pelvic lymphadenectomy for bladder cancer at 3 academic institutions. TCC was present in the radical cystectomy specimen in 888 patients (93%). NonTCC histology was present in 67 patients (7%), including squamous cell carcinoma in 26, adenocarcinoma in 13, small cell carcinoma in 10 and other nonTCC subtypes (ie spindle cell carcinoma, carcinosarcoma and undifferentiated carcinoma) in 18. For patients alive at last followup median followup was 39 and 23 months for patients with TCC and nonTCC histologies, respectively. Bladder cancer specific progression and survival were assessed using Kaplan-Meier and multivariate Cox proportional hazards analyses. RESULTS: Bladder cancer specific progression and mortality did not differ significantly between patients with SCC and TCC histologies. Patients with nonTCC and nonSCC bladder cancer were at significantly increased risk for progression and death compared to patients with TCC or SCC (p <0.001). This association remained statistically significant in patients with organ confined disease (stage pT2 or lower) and patients with nonorgan confined disease (stage pT3 or higher) (p <0.001). In a multivariate analysis nonTCC and nonSCC histology was associated with an increased risk of bladder cancer progression and death (OR 2.272 and 2.585, respectively, p <0.001), even after adjusting for final pathological stage, lymph node status, lymphovascular invasion and neoadjuvant or adjuvant treatments. CONCLUSIONS: NonTCC and nonSCC histological subtype is an independent predictor of bladder cancer progression and mortality in patients undergoing radical cystectomy for bladder cancer. Patients with bladder TCC and SCC share similar stage specific clinical outcomes.     

Cervical nodal metastases from occult primary: undifferentiated carcinoma versus squamous cell carcinoma

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE: Controversy exists regarding the management of cervical lymph node metastases from occult primary. Oncologists face a major challenge in adopting an optimal approach. This study attempted to compare the clinical course of two different histologic findings of this disease entity. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective analysis was performed for all patients referred to our institution between 1988 and 1998 with cervical lymph node metastases from an unknown primary. Case records of consecutive unselected patients with histologically confirmed carcinoma in cervical lymph nodes were reviewed. Those with histologic findings other than squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) or undifferentiated carcinoma (UDC) and lymphadenopathies at the supraclavicular fossa alone or below the clavicles at the time of diagnosis were excluded. There were 45 patients identified with a mean follow-up of 36 months (range, 4-110 months). Thirty-seven were men and eight were women. The mean age was 57 (range, 29-91). There were 32 patients with SCC and 13 patients with UDC. Treatment modality included surgery (S) alone in 1 patient (2%), radiotherapy (RT) alone in 24 patients (53%), and combined modality in 20 patients (45%). (Twelve patients (27%) had combined S and RT, 8 patients (18%) had combined chemotherapy and RT.) Twenty-eight patients (62%) were treated with radical intent. For those patients treated by radical RT, the RT field covered both sides of the neck and the potential mucosal primary (PMP) sites, including the entire pharyngeal axis. The median radiation doses to the lymph nodes and the PMP were 65 Gy (range, 60-70 Gy) and 60 Gy (range, 40-70 Gy), respectively. RESULTS: At the time of analysis, ultimate control of disease above the clavicles according to N stage, treatment intent, and histologic type was as follows: N1s, 7 of 7 (100%); N2s, 15 of 26 (58%); N3s, 1 of 12 (8%); radical intent, 19 of 28 (68%); palliative intent, 3 of 17 (18%); UDC, 11 of 13 (85%); SCC,11 of 32 (34%). Eleven patients remained alive and disease free, with a median follow-up of 79 months (range, 27-110 months). The 5-year disease-specific survival (DSS) for the radical treatment group and the palliative treatment group were 67% and 18%, respectively (p =.0011). Significant difference in 5-year DSS was observed among the different N groups: 100% for N1s, 55% for N2s, and 0% for N3s, respectively (p =.0001). There was also a significant difference in the 5-year DSS between UDC and SCC: 81% for UDC vs 34% for SCC (p =.01). No significant difference in the 5-year DSS was observed on the basis of treatment modality in the radically treated group: 63% for RT alone vs 75% for S + RT (p =.711). CONCLUSIONS: UDC histologic findings in our series are associated with better locoregional control and DSS than SCC. Our results in local control, emergence of primary tumor, and DSS are comparable with other published data. However, disease control of advanced nodal stage remains poor; more aggressive treatment approaches, like the use of concurrent chemoradiation or altered fractionation scheme, should be explored.     

Cutaneous metastases from transitional cell carcinoma of bladder

Cutaneous metastases from transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder is a rare occurrence. We report on a patient in whom multiple cutaneous metastases developed five months after radical surgery.     

Metastatic cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma to the parotid: the role of surgery and adjuvant radiotherapy to achieve best outcome

Background: Australia has the highest incidence of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma in the world. The majority of lesions occur in the head and neck with metastases to the parotid gland lymph nodes reflecting an uncommon, but aggressive, manifestation. Parotidectomy ± neck dissection followed by adjuvant radiotherapy should be considered as best practice. Methods: Between 1983 and 2000, seventy-four patients were treated for metastatic cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma to the parotid with surgery and adjuvant radiotherapy at Westmead Hospital, Sydney. Relevant data were extracted from patient files and a prospectively maintained database. Patterns of relapse and outcome were analysed. Results: Median age at diagnosis was 65 years (34−93 years) in 63 men and 11 women. Median follow-up duration was 41 months (12−188 months). All patients underwent parotidectomy with 52 undergoing a simultaneous neck dissection. Twelve patients required sacrifice of the facial nerve (4) or one or more branches (8). All received adjuvant radiotherapy to the parotid region with 56 also receiving radiotherapy to the ipsilateral neck. Despite treatment, 24% developed locoregional recurrence, with a median time to relapse of 7.5 months. The most common site for recurrence was the treated parotid region and upper neck. Most relapsed patients died. No variable independently predicted for locoregional recurrence on multivariate analysis. The 5-year absolute and cause-specific survival rates were 58% and 72%, respectively. Conclusion: Parotid gland lymph node metastases from cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma are associated with a high rate of recurrence and cause-specific mortality despite current best practice (surgery and high dose adjuvant radiotherapy). The role of more aggressive surgery, altered fractionation or chemotherapy to enhance locoregional control remains unclear.