[Small cell carcinoma of the bladder: Our experience].
OBJECTIVE
Small cell carcinoma of the bladder shows low incidence and poor survival; thus, treatment algorithms based on randomized studies are unavailable. The aim of the present study is to review our case series.


METHODS
Observational retrospective study of 10 patients diagnosed with small cell carcinoma of the bladder between 2006 and 2013.


RESULTS
Mean age was 65.7 years; There was only one female in the cohort. In all cases hematuria was the fist symptom. 4 cases presented high-grade papillary urothelial carcinoma with small cell carcinoma. Radical cystectomy was performed in 40% patients, in combination with chemotherapy, radiotherapy or both. Median survival was 330 days (IC 95%: 40.757- 619.243) and only one patient showed complete response.


CONCLUSIONS
Even when small cell carcinoma of the bladder is a low incidence tumor, its prognosis is worse than that of urothelial carcinoma. Although further randomized studies are needed to best define treatment, this study shows that survival at local stages is optimized by neoadjuvant chemotherapy, followed by radical resection, as the literature suggests.
Urology Department. Hospital Clínico Universitario de Valladolid. Spain.
Laura
L
Pesquera-Ortega
Urology Department. Hospital Clínico Universitario de Valladolid. Spain.
Jesús
J
Calleja-Escudero
Urology Department. Hospital Clínico Universitario de Valladolid. Spain.
Ángela
Á
Pascual-Fernández
Urology Department. Hospital Clínico Universitario de Valladolid. Spain.
Raúl
R
Calvo-González
Unidad de Apoyo a la Investigación. Hospital Clínico Universitario de Valladolid. Spain.
Marife
M
Muñoz-Moreno
Urology Department. Hospital Clínico Universitario de Valladolid. Spain.
José Ramón
JR
Cortiñas-González
D000368:Aged; D018288:Carcinoma, Small Cell / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D001749:Urinary Bladder Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy