SARCOMATOID CARCINOMA OF THE URINARY-BLADDER - CLINICOPATHOLOGICAL ANALYSIS OF 18 CASES WITH IMMUNOHISTOCHEMICAL AND ELECTRON-MICROSCOPIC FINDINGS

Sarcomatoid carcinoma is a rare tumor in the urinary bladder and accou nts for similar to 0.3% of all bladder malignancies. In this study, th e clinicopathologic findings of 18 cases are described. Distribution o f sex and age and clinical symptoms are not distinctive from transitio nal cell carcinoma. The tumor behaves as a high-grade malignancy with advanced initial stage and unfavorable outcome. Surgery is the therapy of choice. Histological differentiation from true sarcoma may be diff icult. Recognition rests on the co-existence of an overt carcinomatous component or demonstration of the epithelial nature by immunohistoche mistry or electron microscopy.