Bladder Cancer Types

Bladder cancer types include transitional cell carcinoma, squamous cell bladder carcinoma, and adenocarcinoma. The most common among the bladder cancer types is transitional cell carcinoma. Bladder cancers can also be clasified as belonging to one of two bladder cancer types: superficial bladder cancer or invasive bladder cancer. Metastatic bladder cancer is bladder cancer that has spread outside of the bladder.

 

Bladder Cancer Types: An Introduction

The wall of the bladder is lined with transitional cells and squamous cells.
 
  • More than 90 percent of bladder cancers begin in the transitional cells. This bladder cancer type is called transitional cell carcinoma.
     
  • About 8 percent of people with bladder cancer have a second bladder cancer type known as squamous cell bladder carcinoma (cancer) 

 

  • About 2 percent of people with bladder cancer have a third bladder cancer type referred to as adenocarcinoma.
     
Bladder cancers are also identified as superficial bladder cancer or invasive bladder cancer. When bladder cancer has spread outside of the bladder, it is known as metastatic bladder cancer.
 

Bladder Cancer Type: Transitional Cell Carcinoma

Transitional cell carcinoma is cancer that begins in cells in the innermost tissue layer of the bladder. In transitional cell cancer, the cells are able to stretch when the bladder is full and shrink when the bladder is emptied. Most bladder cancers begin in the transitional cells.
 

Bladder Cancer Type: Squamous Cell Bladder Cancer

Squamous cell bladder cancer is cancer that begins in squamous cells, which are thin, flat cells that may form in the bladder after a long-term infection or irritation.
 
(Bladder Cancer Types Continued: Page 2)
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Written by/reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD