A Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results analysis of small cell carcinoma of the bladder

Abstract

Background: Small cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder (SCCB) is difficult to characterize and study because of its rarity. For the current study, a large population-based database was used to address ill-defined clinical parameters for this disease. METHODS: The authors analyzed the incidence, sociodemographics, prognostic variables, and treatment trends of this cancer in the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) limited database (1991-2005). The SEER-Medicare database (1991-2005) was used to estimate chemotherapy use. RESULTS: There were 642 patients in the SEER limited dataset. From 1991 to 2005, the incidence of SCCB increased significantly from 0.05 to 0.14 cases per 100,000 population (P