Transitional cell carcinoma history and symptoms

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

The most common symptoms of transitional cell carcinoma of bladder include hematuria, urinary frequency, urinary urgency, and dysuria. The most common symptoms of transitional cell carcinoma of upper urinary tract include hematuria and pain in the flank or abdomen. Less common symptoms of transitional cell carcinoma include loss of appetite, weight loss, fatigue, and fever.

When evaluating a patient for transitional cell carcinoma, you should take a detailed history of the presenting symptom (duration, onset, progression), other associated symptoms, and a thorough past medical history review. Other specific areas of focus when obtaining the history are:^[1]

• Review of smoking history
• Using pain medicines such as phenacetin for a long time
• Any occupational or environmental risk factors such as being around dyes and chemicals used in making leather, textiles, rubber, or plastics

• Clinical presentation is variable and usually non-specific.
• Tumors may also result in obstruction and symptomatic hydronephrosis.
• Occasionally there may be no symptoms in the early stages and present once systemic symptoms of metastatic disease are present.
• Symptoms of transitional cell carcinoma may include:^[1][2][3]

• Hematuria
• Urinary frequency
• Urinary urgency
• Difficulty urinating
• Dysuria

• Hematuria
• Pain in the flank or abdomen

• Loss of appetite
• Weight loss
• Fatigue
• Fever
• Change in bowel habits
• Urine leakage (incontinence)
• Pain in the rectum, anus, pelvis, flank above the pubic bone, or in bones
• Lump in the pelvis
• Swelling in the legs, scrotum, or vulva

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