INTRODUCTION: Urothelial carcinoma in young patients (<40 years) is rare. The only known risk factor is exposure to tobacco smoking and/or early active tobacco intoxication. No genetic predisposing factor seems to exist. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A review of the literature was performed using PubMed database with a combination of the following keywords: urothelial carcinoma, young patients/adults, children, pediatrics, urothelium and neoplasm prognosis. DISCUSSION: Urothelial carcinomas before the age of 20 years are non-invasive papillary lesions (papillary urothelial neoplasm of low malignant potential and non-invasive papillary urothelial carcinoma low grade or high grade) of excellent prognosis. Rare cases of infiltrating carcinomas have been described between 20 to 40 years; their histological and clinical aspects are close to those observed in usual urothelial carcinomas. CONCLUSION: The management of urothelial carcinomas of patients under 40 years relies on the tumor grade and stage. Treatment of aggressive cases has to be curative from a clinical point of view, nevertheless conserving vital and reproducing functions.
INTRODUCTION:Urothelial carcinoma in young patients (<40 years) is rare. The only known risk factor is exposure to tobacco smoking and/or early active tobacco intoxication. No genetic predisposing factor seems to exist. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A review of the literature was performed using PubMed database with a combination of the following keywords: urothelial carcinoma, young patients/adults, children, pediatrics, urothelium and neoplasm prognosis. DISCUSSION: Urothelial carcinomas before the age of 20 years are non-invasive papillary lesions (papillary urothelial neoplasm of low malignant potential and non-invasive papillary urothelial carcinoma low grade or high grade) of excellent prognosis. Rare cases of infiltrating carcinomas have been described between 20 to 40 years; their histological and clinical aspects are close to those observed in usual urothelial carcinomas. CONCLUSION: The management of urothelial carcinomas of patients under 40 years relies on the tumor grade and stage. Treatment of aggressive cases has to be curative from a clinical point of view, nevertheless conserving vital and reproducing functions.