What are the other Names for this Condition? (Also known as/Synonyms)

• Large Cell Neuroendocrine Carcinoma of the Bladder
• LCNEC of the Bladder
• LCNEC of the Urinary Bladder

What is Large Cell Neuroendocrine Carcinoma of the Urinary Bladder? (Definition/Background Information)

• Large Cell Neuroendocrine Carcinoma (LCNEC) of the Urinary Bladder is a rare high-grade neuroendocrine tumor that is seen in the urinary tract
• Neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) are tumors showing neuroendocrine differentiation

Incidence:

• LCNEC of the Urinary Bladder is an exceedingly rare tumor; less than 40 Primary Bladder LCNECs have been in the literature so far
• A vast majority of cases are noted in adults
• Both males and females are affected
• All races and ethnic groups are at risk

Risk factors: The risk factors for Large Cell Neuroendocrine Carcinoma of the Urinary Bladder are presently unknown.

Cause: The cause of tumor formation is presently unknown.

Signs and symptoms:

• The tumors can arise in a variety of anatomical locations including the urinary bladder
• Blood in urine is a common symptom
• Bladder tumors are typically between 1-9 cm in size

Diagnosis:

• Blood and urine tests
• Radiological studies
  • Ultrasound of abdomen
  • CT and MRI scan of abdomen
• Tissue biopsy of the tumor is important to arrive at a definitive diagnosis

Complications:

• Emotional stress
• Tumor metastasis to different organs and regions
• Incomplete removal resulting in tumor recurrence

Treatment:

• The staging is based on American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) classification
• Treatment depends on cancer stage and health of the individual
• It may require a combination of surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy

Prevention: Presently, it is not possible to prevent the formation of Large Cell Neuroendocrine Carcinoma of the Urinary Bladder.

Prognosis:

• The prognosis depends on the stage of the tumor
• These tumors are typically high grade and have a poor prognosis
• Overall median survival for Bladder LCNEC is less than 1 year