Late urinary bladder metastases after radical resection of prostatic carcinoma

The case of a 69-year-old man who underwent radical prostatectomy because of carcinoma of the prostate is reported. A preoperative cystoscopy was normal. The histological evaluation of the radical prostatectomy showed an infiltration of the urethral margin. 14 months later, cystoscopy showed papillary metastases of the prostatic carcinoma in the bladder. Immunohistochemistry and flow cytometry for various prognostic factors showed a high malignant potential of this tumor. Preoperative transurethral instrumentation for the treatment of urethral strictures may be responsible for the dissemination of tumor cells into the bladder.