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

• SCNEC of the Bladder
• SCNEC of the Urinary Bladder

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

• Small Cell Neuroendocrine Carcinoma (SCNEC) 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
• In the genitourinary system, the most common location of SCNEC is the prostate gland and urinary bladder

Incidence:

• Small Cell Neuroendocrine Carcinoma of the Urinary Bladder is an exceedingly rare tumor; it represents less than 1% of all bladder tumors
• The tumor usually occurs in adults in the 50 to 80 years’ age group
• A male predominance is noted, although both male and female genders are affected
• All races and ethnic groups are at risk

Risk factors:

• Smoking
• Other risk factors have not been well-characterized

Cause:

• The cause of tumor formation is presently unknown
• Studies have shown several genetic abnormalities in small cell neuroendocrine carcinoma that vary based on its site of origin

Signs and symptoms:

• The tumor can arise in a variety of anatomical locations including the urinary bladder 
• SCNECs of the Urinary Bladder present blood in urine as a common symptom
• Some individuals have paraneoplastic syndrome due to over-production of a variety of hormones resulting in associated signs and symptoms

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 protocols are still being established
• Currently, Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) eighth-edition staging system is used to classify such tumors
• Treatment depends on cancer stage and health of the individual
• It may require a combination of surgery, chemotherapy (platinum-based), and radiation therapy

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

Prognosis:

• The prognosis depends on the stage of the tumor
• These tumors are usually high grade and have poor prognosis due to an aggressive growth pattern
• Studies have shown that Urinary Bladder SCNECs generally have a better prognoses than small cell carcinomas at other sites such as the prostate gland