Bladder Neoplasia

Neoplasia of the bladder is most commmon in dogs, cats and cattle.

Leiomyoma

• Occur in the smooth muscle of the bladder wall.
• May be single or multiple, well defined white nodular projections.
• If situated at the neck of the bladder, they can disrupt urinary flow.

Papilloma

• Bladder papillomas are uncommon.
• Will often recur following excision.
• Can lead to carcinomas.

Botryoid rhabdomyosarcoma

• Occurs in the bladder and less commonly the urethra of large breed dogs less than 18 months of age.
• Embryonic myoblasts may be the origin.
• Appears as a large fungating mass, usually at the trigone of the bladder.
• Highly infiltrative and metastatic.

Malignant tumours

Transitional cell carcinoma

• Most relevant in dogs and cats.
• Spreads along and through the bladder wall.
• Destroys the epithelium and invades the muscle layers.
• Metastasis to regional nodes and the lungs occurs in approximately 50% of cases.
  • Can also spread to the peritoneum or in a retrograde manner to the soft tissue and bone of the hindlimbs.