EXOPHYTIC URINARY-BLADDER LESIONS IN CHILDHOOD

A retrospective study of the clinical presentation, diagnosis, and tre atment of eight patients whose common characteristic was an exophytic, solid urinary bladder lesion (botryoid rhabdomyosarcoma, transitional -cell carcinoma, nephrogenic adenoma, cystitis cystica, von Brunn's ne sts, hemangioma, and squamous-cell metaplasia) is presented. Exophytic bladder lesions, some of which are of great importance, are rare enti ties in childhood and present nonspecific clinical pictures. Therefore , whenever a space-occupying lesion is detected on a complementary stu dy of the lower urinary tract, the differential diagnosis should be co nsidered. Advantages of each of the currently available diagnostic met hods are discussed and the essential role of cystoscopy is stressed.