Calcitonin-producing well-differentiated neuroendocrine carcinoma (carcinoid tumor) of the urinary bladder: case report.
BACKGROUND
The occurrence of calcitonin-secreting primary carcinoid tumor of the urinary bladder is extremely rare.


METHODS
The case of a 68-year-old male with carcinoid tumor arising in the urinary bladder is presented. Transurethral resection of a polypoid small tumor 0.4 cm in diameter was performed. Immunohistochemical study using neuroendocrine markers allowed a straightforward diagnosis of a low-grade neuroendocrine carcinoma (carcinoid tumor) of the urinary bladder. Immunohistochemistry demonstrated calcitonin immunoreactivity in the most of the tumor cells.


CONCLUSIONS
This tumor shows specific clinical, macroscopical and histological features and must be considered in the differential diagnosis of bladder neoplasms.
Mascolo
Massimo
M
Department of Biomorphological and Functional Sciences, Pathology Section, University of Naples Federico II, Italy. mmascol@libero.it
Altieri
Vincenzo
V
Mignogna
Chiara
C
Napodano
Giorgio
G
De Rosa
Gaetano
G
Insabato
Luigi
L
D000368:Aged; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D002116:Calcitonin / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D002276:Carcinoid Tumor / Q000378:metabolism*; D018278:Carcinoma, Neuroendocrine / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism*; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D016130:Immunophenotyping; D008297:Male; D001749:Urinary Bladder Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism*
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D002116:Calcitonin