A case in which both urothelial carcinoma cells and contaminant adenocarcinoma cells were identified in a voided urine sample

Abstract

We report a case of a 60-year-old woman who was admitted to our hospital with the chief complaint of abdominal pain. Both urothelial carcinoma and adenocarcinoma cells were identified in a cytological smear of a voided urine sample. The urothelial carcinoma cells showed an irregular nuclear margin and opaque cytoplasm. The urothelial carcinoma was eventually diagnosed as a non-invasive papillary urothelial carcinoma, low grade. The adenocarcinoma cells showed peripherally located nuclei and mucinous-like pinkish cytoplasm. The patient was diagnosed as having uterine cervical adenocarcinoma, which was resected, with no evidence of metastasis to the urinary bladder. Accordingly, the finding of adenocarcinoma cells in the voided urine was concluded as being a result of urinary contamination by vaginal secretions containing the cervical adenocarcinoma cells.