Transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder mimicking recurrent paget's disease of the vulva: report of two cases, with one occurring in a myocutaneous flap.

BACKGROUND

Transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder may spread superficially along and beyond the urogenital epithelium, mimicking vulvar Paget's disease.

CASES: These two cases illustrate unusual aspects of transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder and vulvar Paget's disease. Both patients had a history of breast cancer and previously had multiple operations for recurrent vulvar Paget's disease; one patient had a radical vulvectomy with transverse rectus abdominal muscle flap reconstruction. Both had a history of recurrent transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder. Both presented with recalcitrant transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder and clinically recurrent vulvar Paget's disease. Pathologic evaluation, however, revealed pagetoid spread of carcinoma in situ (CIS) throughout the urothelium, with an invasive component in the cervix and extension of the CIS into the rectum in one patient.

CONCLUSION

If the history of the patient includes transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder and vulvar Paget's disease, histologic evaluation is needed for accurate diagnosis and proper treatment.