Metastatic bladder cancer presenting as duodenal obstruction

Ann Acad Med Singap. 2009 Oct;38(10):914-2.

Abstract

Introduction: Bladder cancer is a common malignancy but presentation with metastatic disease is rare. This is the fi rst reported case of duodenal obstruction as a presentation of metastatic bladder cancer.

Clinical picture: A middle-aged woman presented with nausea, vomiting, weight loss and intermittent haematuria. Radiology and histology confirmed metastatic bladder cancer to the retroperitoneum encasing the duodenum and causing obstruction.

Treatment: Insertion of a duodenal stent relieved the obstruction and palliative chemoradiotherapy was initiated.

Outcome: The patient died 15 months after diagnosis.

Conclusions: Clinicians and radiologists should be aware of atypical presentations of common malignancies.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Carcinoma, Transitional Cell / drug therapy
  • Carcinoma, Transitional Cell / secondary*
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Duodenal Obstruction / diagnosis
  • Duodenal Obstruction / etiology*
  • Duodenal Obstruction / surgery
  • Fatal Outcome
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Palliative Care
  • Retroperitoneal Neoplasms / complications
  • Retroperitoneal Neoplasms / diagnosis
  • Retroperitoneal Neoplasms / secondary*
  • Stents
  • Urinary Bladder Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Urinary Bladder Neoplasms / pathology*