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Spindle and giant cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder: a clinicopathological light microscopic and immunohistochemical study
Author(s) -
Sfrio G.,
Zampatti C.,
Ceppi M.
Publication year - 1995
Publication title -
british journal of urology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.773
H-Index - 148
eISSN - 1464-410X
pISSN - 0007-1331
DOI - 10.1111/j.1464-410x.1995.tb07305.x
Subject(s) - immunohistochemistry , urinary bladder , pathology , carcinoma , spindle cell carcinoma , medicine , stage (stratigraphy) , transitional cell carcinoma , giant cell , bladder cancer , biology , cancer , urology , paleontology
Objective To evaluate the cellular nature and biological behaviour of spindle and giant cell carcinoma (SGCC) of the urinary bladder. The clinicopathological. light microscopic and immunohistochemical features of seven patients are reported. Patients and methods Paraffin‐embedded I issue was available from each patient for microscopic and immu‐nohistochemical studies. There were five men and two women, ranging in age from 48 to 79 years. Clinical histories and follow ‐up information were obtained by review of ihe patients' churts. The clinical outcome was compared with that of transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) and small cell carcinoma (SCC). Results The tumours were large, polypoid and frequently ulcerated. They diffusely permeated the bladder musculature or the perivesical fat. On microscopic examination live tumours were composed mainly of interlacing sheets of spindle cells and occasional giant cells: two comprised giant cells only. Foci of identiliable TCC (papillary or in situ ) were present in four tumours. Immunohislochemistry demonstrated that SGCCs exhibit a phenotype indicative of an epithelial nature. Conclusions The median survival (11 months) of the seven patients indicates that SGCCs have a poor prognosis and they are more aggressive than TcYs of the same stage. The unfavourable clinical course is similar to the rapidly fatal outcome of small cell carcinomas of the bladder. The prolonged survival periods of three patients who received additional chemotherapy suggest that this treatment may be profitable.