Purpose
To demonstrate the pathological features of the extremely rare metastatic transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) from the bladder
to the orbit, and to review the literature on metastatic TCC to the orbit.
Methods
A 74-year-old man experienced 2 weeks of red eye, proptosis, diplopia, pain, and visual loss in the right eye. Three years
previous to the current presentation, the patient had undergone a transurethral resection for superficial and moderately differentiated
TCC of the bladder. A transseptal anterior orbitotomy was performed.
Results
Histopathological examination of the orbital lesion revealed nests of carcinomatous cells. Atypical pleomorphic cells with
vacuolated cytoplasm were evident. The cellular morphology of the orbital lesion was identical to that of the primary TCC.
There have been 12 previously reported cases of metastases to the orbit from TCC of the bladder, with the time from onset
of primary TCC to observation of ocular symptoms ranging from 3 weeks to 11 years. Mean survival after orbital metastasis
developed from TCC was 3.0 months.
Conclusion
This study presents a detailed description of the pathological features of metastatic TCC in the orbit. In cases of orbital
metastasis from TCC, patient prognosis is very poor. Jpn J Ophthalmol 2006;50:469–473 © Japanese Ophthalmological Society 2006
Key words bladder - metastasis - orbit - pathology - transitional cell carcinoma
The authors have no conflict or commercial interest in any material mentioned in this study. They have received no financial
support nor do they have any relationships with any entity with regard to the material presented in this study.