To summarize the characteristics of clinical manifestation, diagnosis, treatment and prognosis of small cell neuroendocrine carcinoma of the urinary bladder (SCNECB).

From January 2011 to May 2016, 12 cases of SCNECB patients were reviewed and their data were analyzed retrospectively, with 10 males 2 females, aged 25~74 years with the average age (61.2±12.6) years.

In 12 cases, 6 patients received transurethral resection of bladder tumor (TURBT). 2 cases relapsed followed by interventional embolization and chemotherapy and 1 case underwent radical cystectomy after a relapse. The other one underwent TURBT repeatedly to deal with the relapse, ending with systemic metastases. 3 patients underwent radical cystectomy, and 2 of them were diagnosed with lymph nodes metastasis (1 received chemotherapy). There was 1 case with partial cystectomy. The last two cases were only taken biopsy through cystoscopy. Immunohistochemical staining was positive in Syn (75%, 9/12), NSE(75%, 9/12), CgA(66.7%, 8/12) and CD56 (41.7%, 5/12). The follow-up data were available in 10 cases(4~30 months, average 12 months), with 2 survivors (8 months after surgery without relapse and 6 months after conservative treatment, respectively) and 8 deaths [average survival time (13.1±8.8) months].

SCNECB is a kind of rare malignant tumor of the bladder with an extremely poor prognosis. The golden standard for diagnosis is pathology. Radical cystectomy is the first choice for treatment. Chemotherapy may prolong the overall survival.

Bladder; Small cell neuroendocrine carcinoma; Diagnosis; Treatment; Prognosis