title: Urothelial carcinoma of the sarcomatoid variant in a young patient with spina bifida: a case report and review of the literature.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Patients with neurogenic bladder due to spina bifida are considered to be at increased risk for aggressive bladder cancer. We present a unique case of a 32-year-old woman with spina bifida diagnosed with sarcomatoid urothelial carcinoma of the bladder and report diagnosis and management.
  
  
  METHODS
  A 32 year old woman with neurogenic bladder managed with intermittent self catheterisations, presented with gross hematuria. On cystoscopy, she had a bulky bladder mass on the posterior bladder wall. Bladder biopsies revealed sarcomatoid variant of bladder transitional cell carcinoma. Treatment included radical cystectomy with ileal conduit diversion and adjuvant chemotherapy with excellent intermediate term follow up.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patents with neurogenic bladder managed with intermittent self catheterisations need periodical follow up due to increased risk for aggressive bladder cancer. Immediate radical cystectomy with adjuvant chemotherapy is the suggested treatment approach.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, "Asklipieion" General Hospital, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nomikos
authors.forename: Prodromos
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Philippou
authors.forename: Chrysa
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Glava
authors.forename: Dimitrios
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Delakas