1999 Volume 38 Issue 6 Pages 553-557
Background: Neuroendocrine carcinoma of the bladder is rare, being reported in less than 0.5% of all bladder malignancies. We report a case of neuroendocrine carcinoma found by primary urinary cytology.
Case: A 64-year-old male visited a medical practitioner complaining of gross hematuria and was admitled to the hospital with a suspected bladder tumor. Smears showed many tumor cells with naked nuclei. There cells were separately scattered or formed weakly connected small clusters. Nuclear molding, indian file-like or rosette-like arrangements were also observed. Thus cytologic findings were characteristic of the cellular features of small cell car-cinoma of the lung. Histologically, tumor cells showed solid proliferation and formed foci of various sizes. Immunohistchemicaly, cells were strongly positive for neuron specific enolase. Electron microscopically, dense core granules were observed.
Conclusion: The cytologic findings of bladder tumor were consistent with the charactristic histologic findings of neuroendocrine carcinoma of the bladder. These carcinomas have a rapidly aggressive clinical course, so early detection of them by urinary cytology is very important.
