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TRANSITIONAL CELL CARCINOMA (TCC)

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TRANSITIONAL CELL CARCINOMA (TCC)

Transitional cell carcinoma is a type of cancer that occurs in the urinary system.

  • The urinary system is a group of organs in the body that helps with filtering out excess fluid and other materials from the bloodstream.
  • The materials are filtered out from the body in the form of urine.
  • Urine is produced by the kidneys, collected by the bladder, and excreted through the urethra.
  • The tube that connects the kidney to the bladder is called the ureter. There are two ureters in most healthy people.
  • The top of each ureter is located at the center of the kidney in a placed called the renal pelvis.
  • When the kidney makes urine, it collects in the renal pelvis from where it passes to the ureter, and then to the bladder.
  • The renal pelvis, ureter, bladder, and urethra are lined with transitional cells. These cells are able to stretch and bend without breaking apart.
  • Because transitional cell line up many parts of the urinary system, tumors can develop in more than one place.
  • TCC is the most common type of bladder cancer and cancer of the ureter and urethra.
  • It is the second most common type of kidney cancer.
  • In some cases, TCC metastasizes and spread to deep layers of the bladder, other areas of the body and the lymph nodes.

CAUSES

The exact cause of the condition is not known, but certain factors that can increase your risk are:

  • Cigarettes smoking
  • Exposure to certain substances such as coal, tar
  • Abuse of pain medications
  • Use of cancer-treating drugs
  • Working in textile or plastic industry

SYMPTOMS

  • Unexplained weight loss
  • Blood in the urine
  • Extreme fatigue
  • Persistent back pain
  • Frequent or painful urination

DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT

To make a diagnosis, the doctor will carry out:

  • A detailed review of your health history
  • A physical exam to look for signs of the disease
  • Urinalysis to check your urine for blood, sugar, protein, or bacteria

Other procedures such as:

Biopsy

Uteroscopy to look into each ureter and renal pelvis for abnormalities

CT scan, MRI, or ultrasound to provide a detailed image of your urinary system

Intravenous pyelogram to evaluate the flow of fluid from the kidneys to the bladder.

 

TREATMENT

Current treatment for the condition includes:

  • Fulguration, where a tool is used to remove the cancerous cell with electricity.
  • Laser surgery, where a laser is used to kill the cancer cell or remove them
  • Segmental resection where only the part that contains the cancer is removed
  • Nephroureterectomy that involves the removal of the bladder tissue, ureter, and kidney.

Other treatment options may include:

  • Radiotherapy
  • Chemotherapy
  • Biological therapies