Case Review of Small Cell Carcinoma of the Urinary Bladder in Korea / 대한비뇨기과학회지

ABSTRACT

Although it is known that small cell carcinoma most commonly occurs in the lung, it may also originate outside the thorax. Primary extrapulmonary small cell carcinoma has been reported in various organs, including the pharynx, larynx, esophagus, stomach, small intestine, salivary glands, pancreas, skin, breast, cervix, vagina, kidneys, ureter, prostate and urinary bladder. Primary pure small cell neuroendocrine carcinoma of the bladder is a rare condition. It is an aggressive tumor with an average five-year survival rate of less than 10%, as cited by multiple case reports. The mean age of these patients is 67.8 years. The prognosis of small cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder is poor because its behavior is more aggressive than bladder transitional cell carcinoma. We review here 4 cases with small cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder, including our own patient who we treated.