Professional
Technical
IVT
urothelial carcinoma
Cancer arising from the transitional epithelium lining the urinary tract.
Full Definition
A malignancy originating from the urothelium (transitional epithelium) that lines the renal pelvis, ureters, bladder, and proximal urethra. Formerly called transitional cell carcinoma, this cancer type accounts for approximately 90% of bladder cancers and can occur throughout the urinary collecting system. The disease may present as superficial (non-muscle-invasive) or invasive forms, with significant differences in prognosis and treatment approaches.
Usage
Usage note: Preferred term over 'transitional cell carcinoma' in current medical literature.
In Context
- "Histopathology confirmed high-grade urothelial carcinoma with lamina propria invasion." — Pathology report
- "Upper tract urothelial carcinoma requires different staging criteria than bladder cancer." — Staging manual
Also known as
transitional cell carcinoma
TCC
Contrasted with
squamous cell carcinoma
adenocarcinoma
Don't confuse with
renal cell carcinoma
prostatic adenocarcinoma