Transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder in adolescents: a diagnosis to bear in mind]

Transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder has a high incidence in adults, but it is uncommon in children and adolescents. Hematuria is the most common symptom of presentation and vesical ecography the preferred diagnostic method. The diagnosis and treatment is performed with cystoscopy and endoscopic resection. We describe two patients: an 18 years old male, who presented with a pediculated tumor on the posterior bladder wall and a 15 years old female with a 1 cm long tumor on the posterior wall too; both were removed under endoscopic control. In both patients superficial transitional cell carcinoma was the final diagnosis and are disease free 3 and 5 years later. A review of the available literature was performed to clarify if this type of tumors must be considered malignant and try to define how long and by which way these patients must be controlled.