Todayโs path rounds are on ๐ญ๐ซ๐๐ง๐ฌ๐ข๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐๐ฅ ๐๐๐ฅ๐ฅ ๐๐๐ซ๐๐ข๐ง๐จ๐ฆ๐๐ฌ! This post is inspired by a case I had this week 
๐๐ก๐๐ญ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐ข๐ญ?
๐๐ซ๐๐ง๐ฌ๐ข๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐๐ฅ ๐๐๐ฅ๐ฅ ๐๐๐ซ๐๐ข๐ง๐จ๐ฆ๐๐ฌ are malignant tumours of the ๐ญ๐ซ๐๐ง๐ฌ๐ข๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐๐ฅ ๐๐ฉ๐ข๐ญ๐ก๐๐ฅ๐ข๐ฎ๐ฆ, a specialized epithelium found in the bladder, ureters and urethra.
๐๐ก๐จ ๐ ๐๐ญ๐ฌ ๐ข๐ญ?
Any species can get this, however we most commonly see it in dogs and cats.
๐๐ก๐๐ญ ๐๐๐ฎ๐ฌ๐๐ฌ ๐ข๐ญ?
Like most tumours, the exact cause of the tumour is often unknown. However, it is thought that the bladder may be predisposed to developing tumours due to the length of time urine sits in the bladder, allowing the bladder cells to be exposed to ๐๐๐ซ๐๐ข๐ง๐จ๐ ๐๐ง๐ฌ (cancer causing agents) in the urine for a prolonged period. There are a variety of potential carcinogens that can be excreted in the urine, but irritation by ๐ฎ๐ซ๐จ๐ฅ๐ข๐ญ๐ก๐ฌ (bladder stones), viruses and toxins can also predispose animals to transitional cell carcinomas.
๐๐ก๐ฒ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐ญ๐ก๐ข๐ฌ ๐ ๐ฉ๐ซ๐จ๐๐ฅ๐๐ฆ?
The first issue with these tumours is that they can obstruct the normal flow of urine, leading to difficult and painful urination. They also can predispose animals to developing ๐ฎ๐ซ๐ข๐ง๐๐ซ๐ฒ ๐ญ๐ซ๐๐๐ญ ๐ข๐ง๐๐๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐ฌ by giving the bacteria a roughened surface to attach to. Additionally, these tumours are malignant, and they have a tendency to ๐ฆ๐๐ญ๐๐ฌ๐ญ๐๐ฌ๐ข๐ณ๐ to other organs, causing further issues.
๐๐จ๐ฐ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐ข๐ญ ๐๐ข๐๐ ๐ง๐จ๐ฌ๐๐?
These tumours are often suspected initially based on clinical signs. On ๐ฎ๐ซ๐ข๐ง๐๐ฅ๐ฒ๐ฌ๐ข๐ฌ (looking at urine under a microscope), tumour cells can sometimes be seen. To confirm the presence of a tumour, ultrasound is often used. From there, the veterinarian will often do a ๐๐ข๐จ๐ฉ๐ฌ๐ฒ (removal of tissue) or ๐๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ง๐๐๐๐ฅ๐ ๐๐ฌ๐ฉ๐ข๐ซ๐๐ญ๐ (sampling cells with a needle) for submission to a pathologist to confirm the type of tumour.
๐๐จ๐ฐ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐ข๐ญ ๐ญ๐ซ๐๐๐ญ๐๐?
Surgical excision is the best treatment method, however these tumours are sometimes located in areas that make excision difficult. In these cases, radiation therapy or chemotherapy may be used.
๐๐ก๐จ๐ญ๐จ๐ฌ
1-4) Examples of transitional cell carcinomas in the bladder!
5) An example of TCC in the urethra.
6) An example of TCC in the pelvic region of the kidney, where the ureters emerge.
7) An example of a fine needle aspirate from a TCC! The tumour cells characteristically have large vacuoles in them called ๐๐๐ฅ๐๐ฆ๐๐-๐๐จ๐ฅ๐ข๐ง๐ฌ๐ค๐ ๐๐จ๐๐ข๐๐ฌ, which you can see here!
๐๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ๐๐๐ฌ
Maxie, G. Jubb, Kennedy and Palmerโs Pathology of Domestic Animals, Volume 2. Sixth Edition.
Photo 1 ยฉ University of Calgary Diagnostic Services Unit.
Photos 2-7 ยฉ Noahโs Arkive contributors French, Render, Crowell, Tyler, Garlick licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
