View source for 26. Cystitides, tumours of the bladder and ureter

= Congenital anomalies of ureters =
Duplicated ureter is a condition in which there are two ureters that drain the same kidney. It occurs when the ureteric bud, which the ureter develops from, splits into two ureters. If this splitting is incomplete can we be left with a bifid ureter, where two ureters drain the same kidney, but the two ureters unite before draining into the bladder at a single ureteric orifice. These conditions have no clinical significance.

Ureteropelvic junction obstruction is defined as an obstruction of the flow of the urine from the renal pelvis to the proximal ureter. It’s a congenital malformation that is more frequent in male children but female adults. It may lead to hydronephrosis.

Congenital megaureter is an uncommon condition where the ureter is abnormally dilated. It increases the risk for infections.

Ureteral diverticulum is a very rare condition (with only 45 cases described in literature as of 2013). It increases the risk for infections.

Ureteral elongation and ureteral tortuosity are very rare but may increase the risk of infection.

== Inflammation and tumours of the ureters ==
Ureteritis: Most cases of ureteritis are due to bacterial infections. It is rarely primary, but rather due to an ascending cystitis, descending pyelonephritis or due to spread from adjacent inflammatory lesions like an appendicitis. The infection may also reach the ureter by lymphatic spread.

Any of the previously mentioned abnormalities of the ureter predisposes to infective ureteritis.

Follicular ureteritis is a rare condition where there are lymphoid nodules in the ureter. Cystic ureteritis is another rare condition where the cysts grow in the ureter.

Fibroepithelial polyp is the most frequent benign tumor of the ureter. It’s very rare.

Urothelial carcinoma may occur in the ureter, commonly together with pelvic and bladder tumors. This type of cancer is described in more detail later in this topic.

== Ureteric obstruction ==
Obstruction of the ureter is usually due to smaller kidney stones. This causes an excruciating colicky pain called ''renal colic''.

Obstruction may also be caused by strictures, either congenital or acquired due to inflammation. Massive haematuria may cause clots to form inside the ureter.

Retroperitoneal fibrosis is an uncommon disease with autoimmune background where fibrosis encases and compresses the obstruction.

The ureter may also be obstructed from the outside, due to:

* Pregnancy
* Inflammation of structures around the ureter
** Salpingitis
** Diverticulitis
** Peritonitis
* Endometriosis
* Tumors
** Rectum
** Bladder
** Prostate
** Ovaries
** Uterus
** Cervix

Obstruction of the ureter leads to hydroureter, pyelectasis and hydronephrosis. This predisposes to infection and therefore pyelonephritis.

== Congenital anomalies of the urinary bladder ==
Bladder diverticulum may be congenital or acquired. In both cases it rises due to weakness of the muscles of the bladder wall. The acquired form is more common and occurs when there is downstream obstruction, such as due to benign prostatic hyperplasia. Diverticulum predisposes to infections, formation of stones, vesicoureteric reflux and tumors.

Bladder exstrophy or ''ectopic bladder'' refers to the presence of the bladder on the outside of the body. It occurs due to defects of the abdominal wall and the anterior bladder wall. The bladder is actually ''everted'' or ''inside-out'' and must be treated with surgery. It increases the risk for adenocarcinoma.

== Inflammation of the bladder ==
Cystitis is an inflammation of the bladder wall. It’s typically caused by a lower urinary tract infection, but it can also be caused by radiation, cytotoxic drugs or renal tuberculosis. Common pathogens are:

* Gram negative bacteria (like E. Coli)
* Chlamydia
* Mycoplasma
* Viruses, especially adenovirus

Haemorrhagic cystitis can be caused by cytotoxic drugs, adenovirus, BK virus and by catheterization.

Chronic cystitis can be caused by:

* Follicular cystitis, which is similar to follicular ureteritis
* Eosinophil cystitis
* Interstitial cystitis – also called bladder pain syndrome
* Malakoplakia – a condition where yellow, large plaques are present on the mucous membrane

Common symptoms of cystitis are urgency, lower abdominal pain and dysuria.

= Bladder cancer =
{{#lst:Bladder cancer|pathology}}

[[Category:Pathology 2 - Theoretical exam topics]]