Types of Bladder Cancer

Bladder cancer is the most common cancer of the urinary tract. Bladder cancer occurs most commonly between the ages of 50 and 70. It is twice as common in men as in women. Cancer-causing agents (carcinogens) in the urine may lead to the development of bladder cancer.

The bladder is a hollow organ in the lower abdomen (pelvis). It collects and stores urine, liquid waste produced by the kidneys. Urine passes from each kidney into the bladder through a tube called ureter and leaves the bladder through the urethra. The wall of the bladder has several layers. A layer of urothelial cells (also called transitional cells) lines the inside of the the kidney, ureter, bladder, and urethra. This layer is called the urothelium or transitional epithelium. Beneath the urothelium, there is a thin zone of connective tissue called the lamina propria. The next deeper layer is a wider zone of muscle tissue called muscularis propria. Beyond this muscle, another zone of fatty connective tissue separates the bladder from other nearby organs. As the cancer penetrates through these layers into the wall of the bladder, it becomes harder to treat.

Types

Most bladder cancers starts in the layer of cells which form the lining of the bladder. These are called transitional cell carcinoma or urothelial carcinoma. Other bladder cancer are squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma. Squamous cell carcinoma starts from one of the types of cell in the bladder lining. Adenocarcinoma starts from glandular cells which produce and release fluids such as mucus. Rare types of bladder cancer include small cell carcinoma, carcinosarcoma, primary lymphoma, and sarcoma.

Tumors are categorized as low-stage (superficial) or high-stage (muscle invasive). If a bladder cancer affects only the inner lining of the bladder, it is known as non-invasive cancer or superficial cancer, or carcinoma in situ. Most bladder cancers are superficial. If the bladder cancer has grown deeper into the bladder wall and extends into the muscle layer or its surrounding tissues, it is called invasive cancer. Nearly all adenocarcinomas and squamous cell carcinomas are invasive.

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