Cytomorphology of lymphoepithelioma-like carcinoma of the urinary bladder: report of two cases.

Lymphoepithelioma-like carcinoma (LELC) of the urinary bladder is a rare variant of high-grade urothelial carcinoma. Here, we report urine cytologic findings in two cases of this rare entity, the diagnosis of which was confirmed by histopathological examination of the resected tumors. The cytomorphologic features included large tumor cells with high nuclear to cytoplasmic ratios, vesicular chromatin, and prominent nucleoli, presented as single cells or intermixed with inflammatory cells. The differential diagnosis included otherwise typical high-grade urothelial carcinoma, reactive urothelial cells and rarely large cell lymphoma. The rarity of the tumor cells may impose a diagnostic challenge in urine specimen.