The bladder is a small hollow organ of the urinary system. It is located in the small pelvis and is responsible for the accumulation of urine (that is, liquid waste products) and its removal from the body. Under the influence of various negative factors, pathological changes occur in the bladder, resulting in the development of certain diseases. Bladder tumors are on the list of the most dangerous diseases.
Basic concepts
A bladder tumor is a group of pathological cells that appear in the tissues of the bladder, multiply rapidly and create a neoplasm. Such cells do not perform any work functions and block the normal functioning of the organ.
Among all cases of urinary tract tumors, bladder tumors account for 50-60%. Males are the most susceptible to this type of disease, they develop 3-4 times more often than women. Speaking about the age category of patients, it should be noted that the largest number of cases were diagnosed in people who have reached the age of 55.
Howtumor growth occurs
First, you need to define what any tumor is. This medical term is commonly understood as a group of cells of an organ or tissue that are distinguished by uncontrolled division.
The fact is that the cells of some tissues in the body are able to divide in a he althy person. This is how tissue regeneration occurs. It occurs in case of tissue or organ damage (this is how the healing process occurs after injuries, cuts, surgical operations). Cell division in this case occurs when necessary and stops when a certain result is achieved. At the same time, the body completely controls this phenomenon.
However, in certain cases, tissue growth occurs for no reason. VI then a group of cells forms a cluster, which is a tumor.
Causes of neoplasms
The main reason for the appearance of uncontrolled tissue growth is cell mutation, which is expressed in the “breakage” of the mechanism of growth and development. The following factors can cause such changes:
- ionizing radiation - this can be either the effect of radiation or receiving a dose of radiation in the treatment of certain diseases;
- prolonged contact with certain chemical elements;
- poor environmental situation (polluted air or water);
- the presence of toxins in the human body.
Risk factors
It has been observed that some groups of people are more prone to developing bladder tumors of one kind or another. To risk factorsinclude:
- stagnation of urine (they usually occur in those people who endure and hold back the urge for a long time);
- bladder pathology (including narrowing of the urethra and prostate adenoma in men);
- low immunity, including immunodeficiency in any form;
- age threshold over 50 (most patients are in this age group);
- stones in the bladder - this factor is explained by the constant microtrauma that occurs as a result of the movement of stones);
- the presence of human papillomavirus.
Types of tumors
All emerging neoplasms in the bladder are usually divided into 2 large categories:
- benign;
- malignant.
Tumors of one type or another differ in their developmental characteristics, growth rate, effect on the body as a whole, and the ability (or inability) to spread to neighboring tissues.
When detecting pathological cells, doctors first of all need to identify the nature of the neoplasm, since the type of treatment and the level of risk to the patient's life depend on this.
Benign tumors
According to medical statistics, benign bladder tumors are quite rare. They make up only 10% of the total number of neoplasms of this organ. Features in the histological structure allow us to divide them into several types.
- Epithelial neoplasms. They aregrow from the cells of the epithelium lining the surface of the bladder. These include adenomas and papillomas. The latter are the most common among benign tumors.
- Non-epithelial tumors. In the list of such neoplasms, fibromyomas, fibromas, hemangiomas and neurinomas should be mentioned.
- There are also intermediate varieties, including chromocytoma and endometriosis and myofibroblastic tumor of the bladder, but they are the least common.
Malignant tumor
Malignant tumors of the bladder are neoplasms formed from pathological cells. Such diseases have other names, for example: oncological or simply bladder cancer.
The incidence of this type of tumor is quite high - about 90% of all types of bladder tumors.
Identification of this type of disease requires immediate treatment, as these neoplasms differ in several ways.
Differences between benign and malignant neoplasms
Despite the fact that in medicine there is a division into benign and malignant tumors of the bladder, such differentiation is very conditional. The fact is that many fibromas, hemangiomas, papillomas and other neoplasms of a benign type eventually degenerate into cancerous tumors.
- Height. Benign formations are characterized by rather slow growth. In addition, the tumor body is limiteda capsule beyond which pathological cells do not spread. Cancers, on the other hand, tend to grow rapidly. Such a tumor is not limited by anything, its size can theoretically be infinitely large.
- Influence on fabrics. Benign formations during growth move apart neighboring tissues, and oncological tissues of the bladder and other organs spread and destroy them. This process is called metastasis.
- Relapses. After removal, cancers are prone to recurrence (reappearance), while adenomas, fibromas and papillomas rarely reappear.
Symptoms
All types of tumors have a similar clinical picture, however, with benign neoplasms, the symptoms are much weaker. Cancer diseases are almost asymptomatic only at the initial stage of development, when the size of the tumor is still quite small. Active growth and spread of pathological cells leads to the manifestation of vivid symptoms of a bladder tumor. The first is dysuria (difficulty passing urine).
- A sluggish stream of urine. This symptom appears due to the fact that the neoplasm has already reached a large size and prevents the proper contraction of the walls of the bladder.
- Acute urinary retention. This sign indicates that the tumor is located near the outlet of the urethra. During the occlusion of the lumen, the outflow of urine is difficult.
- Feeling of incomplete emptying. The large size of the tumor causes a sensation of the presence of urine in the bladder.
- Leaking urine. In case of damage to the bladder neck, this part of the organ becomes more dense. This prevents the canal from closing completely, causing urine to leak.
- Hematuria. The presence of blood in the urine often indicates the presence of a tumor.
- Pain in the lower abdomen. This symptom is very characteristic of cancerous diseases of the bladder, however, pain can also accompany the development of benign tumors on the leg. During torsion, an attack often occurs that urgently requires surgery.
Symptoms of a bladder tumor in women
In addition to all of the above manifestations, there may be other signs of the disease. Among the main symptoms of a bladder tumor in women:
disturbances of the menstrual cycle - this is manifested by its reduction or lengthening;
- the appearance of spotting in the middle of the cycle;
- pain during menstruation;
- change in discharge (appearance of a putrid odor, increase in the amount of discharge).
Tumor symptoms in men
In men, the symptoms are somewhat different from those that occur in women. Men with a bladder tumor complain about:
- frequent urination;
- severe cramps during urination;
- drawing pains in the scrotum and pubic area.
This clinical picture is very similar to the manifestations of other diseases, including cystitis, urethritis andprostatitis. Many men put off a visit to the doctor for a long time, believing that these symptoms are manifestations of the above diseases. This decision exacerbates the situation and makes further treatment more difficult.
Diagnosis
In order for the treatment to be as effective as possible, the doctor must correctly build a course of therapy. The first step is the initial examination of the patient. At this time, the doctor gets acquainted with the patient's complaints, studies the presence of risk factors and the presence of diseases of the urinary system. A tumor of the bladder in men and women manifests itself somewhat differently and at the same time disguises itself as other diseases.
General analysis of urine and blood. The quantitative composition of the analyzes will show the presence of one or another deviation from the norm.
Doctor's task: to examine the patient, palpate the abdomen, check the lymph nodes for enlargement and pain. In addition, there are a number of laboratory tests and hardware studies that will help determine the exact cause of the symptoms present.
Ultrasound of the bladder. This type of diagnostics is effective for detecting neoplasms. In this case, the doctor will receive accurate data on the size of the tumor and its location.
Cystography. This diagnosis is an x-ray examination of the genitourinary system using a contrast agent. This approach is not always used.
Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging. They areare assigned both separately from each other, as well as in a complex. The result helps to build a three-dimensional picture (locating the tumor, size, shape). If we are talking about cancer, all metastases in other organs and tissues will be detected.
Biopsy. The most important analysis that allows you to determine the nature of the tumor with 100% accuracy (whether it is benign or cancerous). To do this, a small sample of tumor tissue is removed and, based on this material, a histological laboratory study is carried out.
Treatment of benign tumors
If a non-epithelial tumor was detected during the diagnostic process, no special treatment is required. The fact is that these types of neoplasms grow extremely slowly and have practically no symptoms. With these diagnoses, regular diagnostic procedures and observation by a urologist are recommended.
When papillomas and polyps are detected, the doctor selects the appropriate therapy.
The most common treatment is surgery. Usually this is electrocoagulation or transurethral electroresection. Such an operation for a tumor of the bladder is performed under general anesthesia, while a catheter is placed for the patient to drain urine during postoperative recovery.
In especially severe cases (with multiple neoplasms or concomitant diseases), doctors resort to open bladder surgery.
During the postoperative period of treatment of a bladder tumor, drugs are prescribed:
- antibiotics (to prevent complications);
- antispasmodics - reduce pain.
Bladder cancer treatment
If the tumor is malignant, treatment should be started immediately. Moreover, it is very important to choose the right set of measures aimed at eliminating the neoplasm and blocking its re-development.
TOUR. Transurethral resection. This procedure is a gentle operation, which is performed using special equipment through the urethra. The absence of abdominal incisions shortens the recovery period and eliminates the risk of complications. The disadvantage is that TUR can only be used in the initial stages with small tumor volumes.
Partial cystectomy. It is the removal of a bladder tumor along with part of the organ.
Immunotherapy. This treatment is carried out by introducing a powerful drug into the cavity of the bladder.
Total cystectomy. This is the complete removal of the organ along with all pathological cells. In this case, the doctor forms an artificial hole to drain urine or installs an implant.
Chemotherapy. It implies treatment with powerful drugs, the action of which is aimed at the destruction of pathological cells. Such therapy is carried out in courses and is most often combined with immunotherapy, radiation therapy and surgery to remove a bladder tumor.
Radiotherapy (radiotherapy). During such treatment, the patient's body is exposed to ionizingradiation. The essence of this procedure is that cancer cells are most susceptible to such radiation. As a result, the structure of the cell is destroyed, in connection with which the tumor loses its ability to grow and develop. Most often, this step is used in the late stages of oncology, in which there are numerous metastases.
Forecast
Prognosis of treatment depends entirely on the nature of the disease and the size of the neoplasm. So, many benign tumors do not need treatment, while the patient can live with them for many decades and not complain about a bad condition.
When malignant neoplasms, the picture changes significantly. Diagnosis at stage 1 or 2 and correct treatment in 50-70% of cases give a good result and complete recovery. The prognosis for treatment of stages 3 and 4 is not so optimistic. At the same time, there are good indicators of therapy even at the last stage of cancer.
What can each person do to best protect themselves from this terrible disease? First of all, this is a regular medical examination and a timely visit to the clinic when the first symptoms appear. Thus, it will be possible to recognize the disease in time and begin an active fight against it.
