Small cell neuroendocrine carcinoma of the urinary bladder: report of three cases with ultrastructural analysis.

Three cases of small cell neuroendocrine carcinoma of the urinary bladder were studied by light and electron microscopic techniques. Dense-core, membrane-bound granules were identified in the cytoplasm of all 3 cases, substantiating the light microscopic impression of a morphologic similarity to other neuroendocrine carcinomas, such as small cell (oat cell) carcinoma of the lung. Two of the three cases showed clinical evidence of distant metastases, suggesting an aggressive biologic potential of this tumor similar to oat cell carcinoma of the lung. A partial remission was induced in these 2 cases using chemotherapy protocols similar to the drug regimens for small cell (oat cell) carcinomas of the lung. Recognition of this distinct entity has important clinical implications regarding therapeutic approach.