Distant recurrence of non-muscle invasive bladder cancer is a rare condition that is poorly understood and difficult to detect in follow-up protocols.
A 73-year-old female with a history of T1N0M0 bladder cancer 8 years ago suffered from a left axillary tumor, a left lung tumor, left mediastinal lymph node swelling, and bilateral adrenal gland tumors. Initially, she was diagnosed with metastatic left breast cancer of the left accessory mamma by needle biopsy of an axillary tumor. Subsequent bronchoscopic biopsy of the mediastinal lymph node revealed metastatic urothelial carcinoma, although no recurrence was detected in the urinary tract. She underwent systemic therapy, and all regions shrank without reprogression.
Non-muscle invasive bladder cancer should be managed considering distant metastasis. If the origin of the metastatic lesions is unknown, this disease should be considered as a possible origin, even in the absence of urinary tract recurrence.
IJU case reports. 2024 Aug 22*** epublish ***
Mahoro Watanabe, Naoki Kawamorita, Tetsuro Shiraiwa, Tomonori Sato, Takuma Sato, Yoshihide Kawasaki, Shinichi Yamashita, Akiko Ebata, Satoko Sato, Akihiro Ito
Department of Urology Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine Sendai Japan., Department of Breast and Endocrine Surgical Oncology Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine Sendai Japan., Department of Pathology Tohoku University Hospital Sendai Japan.