[A case of eosinophilic cystitis presenting with urinary retention]

A 56-year-old woman was referred to our hospital presenting with urinary retention. Ultrasonography revealed bilateral hydronephrosis and magnetic resonance imaging of the pelvis showed diffuse thickening of the bladder wall. The hydronephrosis was improved by urethral balloon catheter. A cystoscopic examination revealed papillary lesions, polypoid yellow lesions and gross mucosal edema in the whole bladder. Pathological examination of transurethral punch biopsy showed no malignancy but inflammatory infiltration in the submucosa of bladder wall with many eosinophils. She performed clean intermittent self-catheterization and was treated with corticosteroids and antihistaminics. Three months after diagnosis, conservative treatment resulted in an excellent relief of symptoms, decrement of residual urine and remission of the bladder lesions in cystoscopy. In women with urinary retention, eosinophilic cystitis (EC) must be considered in the differential diagnosis. To our knowledge, this is the first case of EC presenting with urinary retention reported in the Japanese literature.