Bladder Cancer in a Long-term Survivor of the Prune Belly Syndrome

Area of Science:

• Urology
• Oncology
• Pediatric Surgery

Background:

• Prune belly syndrome (PBS) is a rare congenital disorder characterized by abdominal wall defects, cryptorchidism, and urinary tract dilation.
• Improved perinatal care has increased life expectancy for PBS patients into adulthood.
• Long-term outcomes, particularly adult-onset malignancies, remain understudied in PBS.

Observation:

• A 38-year-old male patient with a history of Prune belly syndrome presented with advanced bladder cancer.
• The malignancy occurred in a non-augmented, non-defunctionalized bladder.
• This represents a previously unreported association in the medical literature.

Findings:

• The case highlights a potential, albeit rare, long-term risk of urinary tract malignancies in adults with PBS.
• Early detection and surveillance strategies for bladder cancer in this population may be warranted.
• Further research is needed to understand the oncogenesis and prevalence of these tumors in PBS patients.

Implications:

• This case expands the known spectrum of complications associated with Prune belly syndrome.
• It underscores the importance of considering genitourinary malignancy surveillance in adult PBS patients.
• Clinicians should be aware of this potential risk when managing long-term PBS survivors.