Background: The significance of long-standing cystitis has been postulated as a causal factor in malignant lymphoma of bladder.
Methods: The authors reviewed 3 cases of primary malignant lymphoma of the urinary bladder and an additional 27 cases described in the literature (25 from Western countries and 2 from Japan). Clinical and pathologic findings in the total 30 cases are summarized.
Results: The majority of patients presented with gross hematuria and were between 20 and 85 years of age (median age, 64 years). Marked female preponderance was found (male to female ratio, 1:6.5). Six patients (20%), all of whom were women, out of 30 had a history of chronic cystitis. Macroscopic findings showed a solitary mass (22 cases), multiple masses (6 cases), or a diffuse lesion without nodule formation (2 cases). The vast majority of bladder lymphoma were non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) of B-cell type; among them, 14% were follicular lymphomas. Follow-up indicated that NHL of bladder had a favorable prognosis.
Conclusions: Malignant lymphoma of bladder is characterized by a preponderance in women, who are occasionally affected by chronic cystitis.