An Unusual Cause of Hemorrhagic Cystitis in a Teenager With Medulloblastoma

Hemorrhagic cystitis is a life-threatening condition in which the transitional epithelium and blood vessels of the bladder necrose leading to severe hematuria, abdominal pain, and voiding lower urinary tract symptoms. Etiology includes chemotherapy (cyclophosphamide, ifosfamide, busulfan), radiotherapy, or infectious agents. We present a pediatric case of a 15-year-old boy with medulloblastoma who developed hemorrhagic cystitis following cisplatin chemotherapy. All other causes were ruled out and it is therefore likely that the agent, in this case, was cisplatin, which has never had hemorrhagic cystitis reported as a side effect. We also suggest a mechanism for urothelial injury centered around OCT-2 receptors.