Plasmacytoid variant of urothelial carcinoma of the bladder manifesting as bilateral ureteral and small bowel obstruction

Abstract

Plasmacytoid urothelial carcinoma (PUC) is a rare variant of bladder cancer characterized by distinct histopathology and advanced stage at diagnosis. Multimodal treatment is usually indicated. We present a case of PUC causing bilateral ureteral obstruction with subsequent renal failure followed shortly by malignant small bowel obstruction, demonstrating the need for a high degree of clinical suspicion in diagnosis of this aggressive subtype. Moreover, the local invasiveness of the disease cannot be understated, given that it can rapidly spread with little radiologic evidence of progression until it is at an advanced stage.

Keywords

• Plasmacytoid urothelial carcinoma
• Bladder
• Ureteral obstruction
• Small bowel obstruction