Sarcomatoid urothelial bladder carcinoma in adults: Histology, symptomatology, treatments and survival

Abstract

Objective: Sarcomatoid urothelial bladder carcinoma comprises 3% of the tumours of the bladder and is considered one of the most aggressive tumours of the urinary tract. Our aim is to analyse the characteristics of sarcomatoid urothelial bladder carcinoma in adults, its treatments and survival. Method: A retrospective study performed between 2000 and 2017 of all the patients with a sarcomatoid urothelial bladder carcinoma in a single centre. We studied the anatomopathological characteristics, symptoms at time of diagnosis, treatment given and survival according to the treatment given. Results: Sixteen patients were diagnosed with sarcomatoid carcinoma, 11 with no heterologous component, one with rhabdomyosarcomatous components, 2 with chondrosarcomatous components and 2 with osteosarcomatous components. The mean age was 74 years (± 20) and 88% were smokers. The primary symptom was haematuria, and the least well-tolerated was dysuria together with hypogastric pain. Ninety-four percent of the patients had muscle layer infiltration and 18% had metastases at the time of diagnosis. Thirty-seven percent of the patients were treated by radical cystectomy, thirteen percent by radical cystectomy plus adjuvant chemotherapy, and 50% were treated by palliative transurethral resection to control their symptoms. A survival curve was made with the different treatments given, which showed a mean global survival of 7 months and no statistically significant differences in terms of survival according to the treatment given. Conclusions: Sarcomatoid urothelial carcinoma is an aggressive disease, of rapid and torpid onset which occurs in patients of advanced age and smokers. There are no established treatment guidelines, and it appears that no treatment influences increased survival. Cystectomy should be evaluated as a treatment alternative for patients whose symptoms are difficult to control. The various heterologous components do not appear to influence the progression of the disease or patient survival.