title: Plasmacytoid urothelial carcinoma of the bladder: a rare malignancy.
abstract: In 2004, the WHO recognized the plasmacytoid subtype as a distinct variant of vesical malignancy. We present a case of plasmacytoid urothelial carcinoma of the bladder treated with radical surgery and adjuvant chemotherapy, thus achieving long-term survival. A 70-year-old woman presented with persistent dysuria and underwent cystoscopy which revealed the presence of diffuse deformity, involving the right lateral vesical wall. Histology revealed the presence of muscle-invasive urothelial carcinoma of the plasmacytoid variant. The patient subsequently underwent radical cystectomy and orthotopic ileal neobladder substitution, as well as adjuvant chemotherapy. At 36 months of follow-up, the patient is free of local recurrence and metastases, while her voiding function is well preserved. Bladder plasmacytoid urothelial carcinoma is considered a rare tumor, with unique microscopic and immunohistochemical features. The ideal therapeutic approach is debatable, but the combination of radical surgery and chemotherapy should constitute the mainstay of management.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Asklipieion General Hospital, Voula, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Prodromos
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Philippou
authors.forename: Ioannis
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kariotis
authors.forename: Demetrios
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Volanis
authors.forename: Achilleas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ploumides
authors.forename: Demetrios
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Delakas
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant / Q000379:methods; D015653:Cystectomy / Q000379:methods; D003558:Cystoscopy / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry / Q000379:methods; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D010950:Plasma Cells / Q000473:pathology*; D012008:Recurrence; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D001743:Urinary Bladder / Q000473:pathology; D001749:Urinary Bladder Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy; D019459:Urothelium / Q000473:pathology*