[Durgical](https://durgical.com/en/) › [DurgiPedia](https://durgical.com/en/durgipedia/) › [General pathology](https://durgical.com/en/general-pathology/) › [Lower urinary tract and male genital system](https://durgical.com/en/general-pathology/areas/urinary-male/) › Other bladder tumours

# Other bladder tumours

- Lesion

Not all bladder cancers are urothelial: chronic irritation, the urachus, neuroendocrine cells and soft tissue give other tumours.

Updated Nov 12, 2026

## Key points

- Squamous cell carcinoma: schistosomiasis, long-term catheters, stones; keratinizing and often advanced at diagnosis.
- Adenocarcinoma: urachal (dome), exstrophy, glandular metaplasia; must be separated from colorectal spread.
- Small cell carcinoma: often mixed with urothelial carcinoma; aggressive.
- Embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma: grape-like polypoid masses (botryoid) in infants and children.
- Inflammatory myofibroblastic tumour and postoperative spindle cell nodules can mimic sarcoma.

## What it is

Squamous cell carcinoma arises in chronically irritated, metaplastic urothelium; where Schistosoma haematobium is endemic (Egypt, sub-Saharan Africa) it is common. Adenocarcinoma arises from the urachus at the dome, from exstrophy or from intestinal metaplasia. Small cell carcinoma is a high-grade neuroendocrine tumour. Mesenchymal tumours include benign leiomyoma, embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma (sarcoma botryoides) of young children and leiomyosarcoma of adults. Secondary tumours invade from the cervix, uterus, prostate and rectum.

## Structure

- Squamous: keratin pearls and intercellular bridges in an ulcerated, infiltrative mass; eggs with granulomas in schistosomiasis.
- Adenocarcinoma: glands, often mucinous or signet ring cells.
- Sarcoma botryoides: polypoid mucosa with a dense cambium layer of small primitive cells beneath the epithelium.

## Non-urothelial bladder tumours

| Tumour | Setting | Feature |
| --- | --- | --- |
| [Squamous cell carcinoma](https://durgical.com/en/conditions/schistosomiasis/) | Schistosomiasis, chronic irritation | Keratinizing; arises in squamous metaplasia |
| Adenocarcinoma | Urachal remnant, exstrophy, glandular metaplasia | Dome tumours, mucin |
| Small cell carcinoma | Older adults, smokers | Neuroendocrine markers; aggressive |
| [Mesenchymal tumours](https://durgical.com/en/conditions/soft-tissue-sarcomas/) | Children (rhabdomyosarcoma), adults (leiomyoma, leiomyosarcoma) | Polypoid or intramural masses |

## Clinical notes

- In regions where S. haematobium is endemic, bladder cancer arises earlier and is mainly squamous.
- Hematuria in a toddler with a grape-like mass protruding from the urethra suggests embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma.

## Memory aid

Worms make squamous, the urachus makes glands, the grape cluster belongs to a child.

## Test yourself

Think of the answer, then tap the question to see it.

## Which bladder cancer type is associated with schistosomiasis?

Squamous cell carcinoma.

## Where does urachal adenocarcinoma arise?

At the dome of the bladder, from remnants of the urachus.

## What is sarcoma botryoides?

Embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma forming grape-like polypoid masses, usually in young children.

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## Elsewhere in DurgiPedia

- [Metaplasia](https://durgical.com/en/general-pathology/metaplasia/)
- [Oncogenic viruses and H. pylori: the table to know](https://durgical.com/en/general-pathology/oncogenic-viruses-and-h-pylori-the-table-to-know/)

## Connections

## Related 4

- [Urothelial tumours: morphology, grade and stage](https://durgical.com/en/general-pathology/urothelial-tumours-morphology-grade-and-stage/)
- [Cystitis and bladder metaplasias](https://durgical.com/en/general-pathology/cystitis-and-bladder-metaplasias/)
- [Oncogenic viruses and H. pylori: the table to know](https://durgical.com/en/general-pathology/oncogenic-viruses-and-h-pylori-the-table-to-know/)
- [Tumours of infancy and childhood](https://durgical.com/en/general-pathology/tumours-of-infancy-and-childhood/)

## Related conditions 3

- [Bladder cancer](https://durgical.com/en/conditions/bladder-cancer/)
- [Schistosomiasis](https://durgical.com/en/conditions/schistosomiasis/)
- [Soft tissue sarcomas (liposarcoma, leiomyosarcoma, rhabdomyosarcoma)](https://durgical.com/en/conditions/soft-tissue-sarcomas/)

## Microorganisms 1

- [Schistosoma mansoni / S. haematobium / S. japonicum](https://durgical.com/en/microbiology/schistosoma-mansoni-s-haematobium-s-japonicum/)

[← All of general pathology](https://durgical.com/en/general-pathology/)

Educational content on the mechanisms of disease; not a diagnostic or treatment guide and no substitute for a health professional's advice. No doses are given.

Sources: [About Schistosomiasis](https://www.cdc.gov/schistosomiasis/about/index.html) (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2024); [Bladder Cancer](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK536923/) (StatPearls (NCBI Bookshelf), 2024).

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Representative model, for educational purposes only.

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Source: https://durgical.com/en/general-pathology/other-bladder-tumours/
License: CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Cite as: DurgiPedia (durgical.com), https://durgical.com/en/general-pathology/other-bladder-tumours/