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

• Transitional Cell Carcinoma of Bladder
• Transitional Cell Carcinoma of Urinary Bladder
• Urothelial Cancer

What is Urothelial Carcinoma? (Definition/Background Information)

• Urothelial Carcinoma (UCC) is the most common form of bladder cancer; UCC constitutes over 90% of the cases and are high-grade malignancies. Bladder cancer is a general term for malignancies that involve the urinary bladder and connected structures
• Urothelial Carcinoma originates from the urothelial cells that line the urothelial tract. Urinary tract includes the renal pelvis, ureters, urinary bladder, and urethra. It was earlier known as Transitional Cell Carcinoma (TCC) of Bladder and is frequently observed in middle-aged and older men

According to the WHO classification of bladder, ureter & renal pelvis, 2016, the following different types of Urothelial Carcinomas are recognized:

• Infiltrating urothelial carcinoma
• Urothelial carcinoma with divergent differentiation
  • With squamous differentiation
  • With glandular differentiation
  • With trophoblastic differentiation
• Nested urothelial carcinoma (including large, nested variant)
• Microcystic urothelial carcinoma
• Micropapillary urothelial carcinoma
• Lymphoepithelioma-like urothelial carcinoma
• Plasmacytoid/signet ring/diffuse urothelial carcinoma
• Sarcomatoid urothelial carcinoma
• Giant cell urothelial carcinoma
• Poorly-differentiated urothelial carcinoma
• Lipid rich urothelial carcinoma
• Clear cell (glycogen-rich) urothelial carcinoma

The tumors are diagnosed under the microscope, on examination of the cancer cells by a pathologist. The classification of the tumor is important, as it may dictate the type of treatments to be provided and the overall outcomes.

• The exact cause of Urothelial Carcinoma is presently unknown. However, there are many contributory factors, such as smoking (a significant risk factor), occupational exposure to chemicals, and a previous history of cancer, which are thought to play a role in its development
• The signs and symptoms of Urothelial Carcinoma usually include blood in urine (that may be the earliest indication of this malignancy), urination difficulties, back pain, and urinary tract infections, among others. During its advanced stages, UCC may spread to the local and regional lymph nodes, including to the liver and bones
• Following a diagnosis, the treatment of Urothelial Carcinoma may include surgery for early and late stages of the cancer. It may also involve chemotherapy and radiation therapy based on the healthcare provider’s assessment. The prognosis depends on several factors including on the UCC subtype and stage of the cancer. The outcomes are better with early diagnosis and appropriate treatment