Giant bladder stone resulting in renal failure and concurrent bladder cancer: A case report

Giant bladder stone is a rare entity in the modern urological practice. There have been limited reports on giant bladder stone with concomitant renal failure and bladder cancer available in the literature.

A 43-year-old male patient presented to the ER with chronic gross hematuria, dysuria, intermittent urination, and bilateral flank pain. Laboratory investigations showed markedly elevated blood urea and serum creatinine levels at admission. Urinalysis revealed pyuria and hematuria with positive nitrite. The kidney-ureter-bladder (KUB) film showed a large single urinary bladder stone measuring 10 × 9 cm. Ultrasound examination revealed bilateral hydronephrosis. Suprapubic cystolithotomy was performed, and the stone was extracted from the bladder. A suspicious bladder mass was found incidentally. Biopsy of the mass showed a low-grade urothelial carcinoma with glandular differentiation and invasion of lamina propria, staged pT1NxMx. The kidney function test marked unimprovement of serum urea and creatinine after the surgery.

Open cystolithotomy was performed to release the obstruction and preserve renal function. Chronic obstruction, long-standing chronic inflammation, and urinary tract infection might play a vital role in the progression of kidney injury and the development of bladder cancer.

Complications that follow giant bladder stone could be long-lasting and taxing for the sufferer. The risk of renal failure and bladder cancer precipitated by chronic obstruction and mucosal injury should be considered when encountering such case.