Transition to adulthood with a bladder augmentation: histopathologic concerns

To investigate the histopathologic changes in native bladder and gastrointestinal segment, the relation between histopathologic changes, type of operation and the period passed over operation in patients with bladder augmentation.

Twenty consecutive patients were enrolled in this study. Histopathologic evaluation of the cystoscopic mucosal biopsies from native bladder and enteric augment was performed in all patients.

Active or chronic non-specific inflammation of various degrees was found in all specimens except two. Metaplastic changes were detected in 3 patients. Two patients had squamous metaplasia (one focal, one extensive) and one patient had intestinal metaplasia. All metaplastic changes were found in native bladder specimens. The type of augmentation in patients with metaplastic changes were ileocystoplasty and sigmoidocystoplasty. No signs of malignancy were detected in any patient.

The complexity of the disorders requiring bladder augmentation does not let the surgeons to draw a clear line between different groups of complications including malignancy formation. However, due to challenging course of the augmentation procedure itself, surgeons should be well aware of the possibility of malignancy development.