Transitional cell carcinoma differential diagnosis

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1];Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Suveenkrishna Pothuru, M.B,B.S. [2]

Overview

Transitional cell carcinoma of bladder must be differentiated from squamous cell carcinoma of the bladder, adenocarcinoma of the bladder, renal cell carcinoma, renal calculi, prostate cancer, and cystitis. Transitional cell carcinoma of renal pelvis must be differentiated from renal cell carcinoma, kidney metastasis, renal medullary carcinoma, renal lymphoma, renal abscess, renal tuberculosis, pyelitis cystica, and papillary necrosis.

Differential Diagnosis

Transitional cell carcinoma of bladder

Transitional cell carcinoma of bladder must be differentiated from:

• Squamous cell carcinoma of the bladder
• Adenocarcinoma of the bladder
• Renal cell carcinoma
• Renal calculi
• Cystitis
• Glomerulonephritis
• Pyelonephritis
• Benign prostatic hyperplasia
• Prostate cancer
• Prostatitis

Transitional cell carcinoma of renal pelvis

Transitional cell carcinoma of renal pelvis must be differentiated from:

Filling defect within renal pelvis/dilated calyx

• Renal stone:

• Usually significantly higher attenuating
• Non-enhancing

• Blood clot:

• May be similar in attenuation (blood clot is usually a little higher)
• Does not enhance
• Changes configuration on short term follow up

• Pyelitis cystica
• Renal tuberculosis
• Papillary necrosis

Distortion or obliteration of calices by renal mass

• Renal cell carcinoma

• Often more vascular and thus more enhancing
• Tends to distort the renal outline

• Kidney metastasis
• Renal medullary carcinoma
• Renal lymphoma
• Renal abscess
• Focal xanthogranulomatous pyelonephritis
• Renal tuberculosis