High-grade urothelial carcinoma of the urinary bladder showing acquisition of microcystic histology in the penile metastasis: Histogenetic considerations

Microcystic urothelial carcinoma is a rare variant of transitional cell carcinoma with an indefinite prognostic significance. Herein, we report for the first time the acquisition of microcystic histology in the penile metastasis of a high-grade urothelial carcinoma of the urinary bladder. The patien...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Pathology, research and practice research and practice, 2009-01, Vol.205 (8), p.568-571
Main Authors: Barresi, Valeria, Ieni, Antonio, Magno, Carlo, Barresi, Gaetano
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Aged
Biomarkers, Tumor - analysis
Carcinoma, Transitional Cell - chemistry
Carcinoma, Transitional Cell - secondary
Carcinoma, Transitional Cell - therapy
Combined Modality Therapy
Cystectomy
Cysts - pathology
Fatal Outcome
Histogenesis
Humans
Male
Microcystic urothelial carcinoma
Mucin
Mucins - analysis
Penile metastasis
Penile Neoplasms - chemistry
Penile Neoplasms - secondary
Penile Neoplasms - therapy
Urinary Bladder Neoplasms - chemistry
Urinary Bladder Neoplasms - pathology
Urinary Bladder Neoplasms - therapy
Urothelium - chemistry
Urothelium - pathology
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Summary:Microcystic urothelial carcinoma is a rare variant of transitional cell carcinoma with an indefinite prognostic significance. Herein, we report for the first time the acquisition of microcystic histology in the penile metastasis of a high-grade urothelial carcinoma of the urinary bladder. The patient died of disseminated disease six months later. The immunohistochemical evaluation of mucin expression in the primitive and metastatic tumor suggests that the microcystic histotype may descend from the primitive urothelial carcinoma through a process of dedifferentiation and subsequent redifferentiation. In conclusion, the acquisition of microcystic histology seems to be associated with an aggressive clinical course of the urothelial carcinoma, as already suggested by other authors. Future studies investigating mucin expression in microcystic urothelial carcinoma may help to define the histogenesis of this tumor.
ISSN:0344-0338
1618-0631
DOI:10.1016/j.prp.2008.12.005