Micropapillary Variant of Urothelial Carcinoma in a Hemodialysis Patient

Abstract

The micropapillary variant of urothelial carcinoma (MPUC) is an aggressive form of urothelial carcinoma with high metastatic potential and a poor prognosis. Although various therapies have been reported, there is still no established treatment strategy for MPUC due to its rarity. The incidence of urinary tract malignancies is higher in patients undergoing hemodialysis (HD) than in healthy individuals. Here, we report the case of an 82-year-old man on HD with end-stage kidney disease who visited our hospital for macrohematuria. Cystoscopy followed by computed tomography and urine cytology revealed a sessile papillary tumor around the left bladder wall. We performed transurethral resection of the bladder tumor. Based on histopathological and imaging findings indicative of clinical-stage T3N0M0 MPUC, we performed radical cystectomy. Histopathology revealed a pathological stage T4aN0M0 MPUC. Two months after the cystectomy, the patient complained of constipation and painful defecation due to local recurrence and rectal invasion. While colostomy was performed to improve defecation 3 months after cystectomy, he did not receive any chemotherapy due to his progressively worsening general condition. Six months after cystectomy, he died following rapid metastases. Our findings, in this case, confirm that bladder cancer in HD patients tends to be pathologically more advanced. Therefore, regular screening is recommended for its early detection in HD patients.