Two cases of plasmacytoid variant of urothelial carcinoma of urinary bladder: systemic chemotherapy might be of benefit

We report two cases of the plasmacytoid variant of urothelial carcinoma of urinary bladder in which systemic chemotherapy was effective. In the first case, a 76-year-old man presented with dysphasia. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography revealed a brain tumor and a bladder tumor. Resection of the brain tumor and transurethral resection of the bladder tumor were performed. The pathological diagnosis was plasmacytoid variant of urothelial carcinoma of urinary bladder with brain metastasis (pT1N0M1). Three cycles of adjuvant MVAC (methotrexate, vinblastine, adriamycin, and cisplatin) chemotherapy were performed. He has no evidence of recurrence 96 months after resection of brain metastasis. In the second case, a 76-year-old man presented with hematuria. MRI revealed a bladder tumor with abdominal wall invasion, and a transurethral biopsy was performed. The pathological diagnosis was plasmacytoid variant of urothelial carcinoma of urinary bladder (cT4bN0M0). After three cycles of neoadjuvant GC (gemcitabine and cisplatin) chemotherapy, MRI demonstrated a complete response. Radical cystectomy was performed, and the pathological diagnosis was pT0pN0. Although there was no evidence of recurrence 9 months after radical cystectomy, he died from other causes. Our two cases suggest that systemic chemotherapy might be effective for the plasmacytoid variant of urothelial carcinoma.