Primary retroperitoneal transitional cell carcinoma presenting as a dumb-bell tumour

We report a retroperitoneal transitional cell carcinoma arising from the primitive urogenital remnants of a 56-year-old married Indian woman. She presented with a huge cystic mass in the hypogastrium and right iliac fossa, which extended into the right thigh as a massive dumb-bell tumour. On exploration, it was found not to be arising from any known retroperitoneal structure. The mass was excised, and the histopathology confirmed transitional cell carcinoma with positive margins. Though she received postoperative chemotherapy with cyclophosphamide, adriamycin and cisplatin, she developed extensive local recurrence and hepatic secondaries, and succumbed to the disease after ten months of follow-up. We highlight the rarity of the disease, its atypical presentation as a cystic dumb-bell lump, its diagnostic challenges and aggressive behaviour, and review the literature on primary retroperitoneal transitional cell carcinomas.