Subcutaneous metastasis from transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder diagnosed by fine needle aspiration biopsy. A case report.
BACKGROUND
Metastasis of transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) of the bladder to the skin and subcutaneous tissue is an uncommon finding.


METHODS
A 58-year-old man with a known case of high grade TCC of the bladder, presented with a right paraspinal mass. Clinically an abscess was suspected. Fine needle aspiration (FNA) showed many clusters and isolated malignant cells in an inflammatory background. The smears were diagnosed as positive for malignancy.


CONCLUSIONS
It is essential to differentiate tumors metastatic to the skin and subcutaneous tissue from inflammatory lesions. FNA helped with the diagnosis in this case and prevented unnecessary biopsy.
Department of Pathology, Shiraz Medical School, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Iran.
P V
PV
Kumar
B
B
Salimi
A
A
Musallaye
A
A
Tadayyon
D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D002295:Carcinoma, Transitional Cell / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012867:Skin / Q000473:pathology*; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000556:secondary*; D001749:Urinary Bladder Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology*