Skip to main content
. 2017 Jun 16;9(6):282–295. doi: 10.4253/wjge.v9.i6.282

Table 1.

Direct extension of bladder urothelial carcinoma to rectum

Patient No., age and sex Prior oncologic history Clinical presentation with GI involvement Radiologic imaging subsequent endoscopy/surgery Metastatic location:Pathologic diagnosis Treatment Outcome Ref.
1. 87-year-old man Nineteen years PTA underwent external beam radiotherapy and leuprolide hormonal therapy for prostate cancer stage T1c Gleason 6. Five years PTA underwent Bacillus Calmette-Guérin immunotherapy and adriamycin chemotherapy for bladder urothelial carcinoma in situ stage Ta G1-2 Painless, bright red blood coating stools for 5 mo. Rectal exam: Bright red blood per rectum and large, hard, fixed, multinodular, “prostate” mass. Hemoglobin = 7.6 g/dL CT angiography: Mass containing air-fluid cavity replacing prostate, with rectal invasion. Colonoscopy: Ulcerated, friable, oozing, multinodular, hemorrhagic, 2.5 cm × 2.5 cm mass on anterior rectal wall, just proximal to dentate line Rectum: Poorly differentiated carcinoma of urothelial origin Abdominopelvic angiography: Successful right-superior-rectal-artery embolization using embolospheres Stopped bleeding for 3 mo. Subsequently rebled. Underwent palliative colostomy for the rebleeding. Died 13 mo after diagnosis of rectal lesion Current report
2. 64-year-old man Sixteen month PTA, underwent radical cystectomy, left nephroureterectomy, and right ureterocutaneostomy for Grade 3 urothelial carcinoma Stage pT3aN0. 11 mo PTA, received 3 courses of MVAC chemotherapy for lymph node metastases Anorexia, tenesmus Abdominopelvic CT: Focal, annular thickening of rectal wall Rectum: Urothelial carcinoma Fecal diversion Died 2 mo later Katayama et al[1]
3. 60-year-old man Prior high grade bladder urothelial carcinoma Anal pain, fatigue, weight loss, and anorexia. Rectal exam: Hard, fixed, annular, constrictive mass, 6 cm from anal verge. Hemoglobin = 11.6 g/dL Pelvic CT: Mass posterior to bladder. Perirectal wall thickening Rectum: Grade 4 urothelial carcinoma Chemotherapy with VP-16 and cisplatin in 3 mo cycles and external beam RT Died 9 mo after initiating RT Stillwell et al[2]
4. 58-year-old man Two year PTA underwent partial cystectomy for grade 3 N0 bladder urothelial carcinoma Anorexia, weight loss, fatigue, straining with bowel movements, narrow-caliber stools, rectal pain, and tenesmus for several months. Rectal exam: hard, annular, constrict-ing lesion with a narrowed lumen, at 8 cm from anal verge Pelvic CT: Large mass encircling rectum, lytic lesion in third lumbar vertebra, and bilateral hydronephrosis. Proctoscopy: Constricting lesion with normal overlying mucosa, suggestive of extrinsic compression. Exploratory laparotomy: Hard mass extending from posterior bladder wall, obliterating rectovesical pouch, and encompassing rectum Rectum: Biopsy during proctos-copy showed normal mucosal tissue. Transrectal (deep) and transperineal biopsy: Poorly differentiated grade 3 urothelial cancer Sigmoid loop colostomy, RT to pelvis and lumbar spine, followed by single dose of cisplatin Died 3 mo later from liver metastasis Stillwell et al[2]
5. 73-year-old man Three years PTA underwent radical cystoprostatectomy, with clear margins, and ileal loop urinary diversion for Stage pT3a N0 bladder urothelial carcinoma. At that time, biopsy also demonstrated areas of adenocarcinoma and signet ring cell carcinoma Diarrhea, rectal pain, fatigue, weight loss, and fecal incontinence for 1 mo. Physical exam: Thin elderly male, bilateral lower extremity edema. Rectal exam: rectal stenosis 1 cm from anal verge. Guaiac negative stool Abdominopelvic CT: annular rectal mass. Exploratory laparoscopy: Solid pelvic tumor adherent to sacrum Rectum: Urothelial cancer invading muscularis propria of rectal wall Diverting loop colostomy Chemotherapy planned, but patient developed lower extremi- ty ischemia, requiring leg amputation. Died shortly thereafter Langenstroer et al[3]
6. 76-year-old man Underwent left nephroureter-ectomy. 1 mo PTA underwent right ureteral diverting cutaneostomy for grade 3 bladder urothelial carcinoma. Bladder mass firmly attached to pelvic wall and to thickened lateral pedicles Symptoms of rectal obstruction. Rectal exam: Stenosis with intact rectal mucosa Pelvic CT: Annular thickening of rectal wall and thickened lateral pedicles, bilaterally Rectum: Urothelial carcinoma Diverting colostomy and unspecified immunotherapy Died 5 mo later Kobayashi et al[4]
7. 66-year-old man No prior oncologic history Rectal exam: Severe rectal stenosis with intact rectal mucosa Abdominopelvic CT: Thickened bladder and rectal walls, bilateral hydronephrosis. Colonoscopy: Narrow rectal lumen with edematous mucosa, suggesting extrinsic compression Rectum: Grade 3 urothelial carcinoma Ileal-conduit and colostomy Died 3 mo after surgery Kobayashi et al[4]
8. 51-year-old man 1 mo PTA underwent ureterocutaneostomy for unresectable grade 3 bladder urothelial carcinoma attached to pelvic wall, causing bilateral hydronephrosis Thin stools. Rectal exam: Narrow rectal lumen Pelvic CT: Annular constriction of rectum Rectum: Grade 3 urothelial carcinoma Diverting colostomy and one course of M-VAC chemotherapy Died 10 mo after surgery Kobayashi et al[4]
9. 74-year-old man Eleven months PTA underwent radical cystectomy for grade 3 urothelial carcinoma of bladder Continuous watery rectal discharge and thin stools Barium enema: Stenosis of lower rectum Pelvic MRI: Thickened rectal mucosa and muscle layer without evident tumor Rectum: Grade 3 pT3a urothelial carcinoma Colostomy, MVAC chemotherapy, and radiation Died 7 mo after presentation Ito et al[5]
10. 54-year-old man Underwent radical cystoprostatectomy with neobladder for grade 3 bladder urothelial carcinoma Presumed refractory ulcerative proctitis Pelvic MRI: Circumferential thickening of rectum. Endoscopy: Circumferential rectal wall thickening 11 cm from anal verge. EUS: Circumferential hypoechoic infiltrate extending through all rectal wall layers Rectum: Urothelial carcinoma Chemotherapy NR Gleeson et al[6]
11. 55-year-old man Underwent radical cystoprostatectomy with neobladder for grade 3 bladder urothelial carcinoma Constipation Abdominopelvic CT: No evident metastasis Endoscopy: Circumferential rectal wall thickening with stricture 16 cm from anal sphincter EUS: Diffuse circumferential thickening of rectal wall Rectum: urothelial carcinoma Chemotherapy NR Gleeson et al[6]
12. 60-year-old man Underwent radical cystoprostatectomy with neobladder, for grade 3 urothelial cancer of bladder Constipation Abdominopelvic CT: Abnormal perirectal lymph nodes. Endoscopy: Circumferential rectal wall thickening. EUS: Diffuse circumferential thickening of all layers of rectal wall with several hypoechoic lymph nodes in extraluminal space Rectum: Urothelial carcinoma Chemotherapy NR Gleeson et al[6]

CT: Computed tomography; GI: Gastrointestinal; M-VAC: Methotrexate, vinblastine, Adriamycin; NR: Not reported; PTA: Prior to admission; RT: Radiation therapy; MRI: Magnetic resonance imaging.