Gross examination of bladder specimens

Introduction Bladder specimens received by pathologists commonly include endoscopic biopsy specimens and tissue from transurethral resections (TURB), both of which incorporate subepithelial tissues to a varying depth, as well as those resulting from cystectomy, cystoprostato-urethrectomy and pelvic exenteration. Less frequently seen are full thickness specimens of the bladder wall carried out at laparotomy ("open" biopsy), diverticula, and partial cystectomy specimens such as those for urachal carcinoma in which bladder dome, urachus, and umbilicus are excised. An Endocut needle based on the Trucut principle is currently being assessed for the ease with which information on tumour invasion can be derived from the tissue specimen. The commonest indication for the examination of bladder tissue remains the diagnosis and assessment of prognostic factors in transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) which comprises 95% of bladder cancer in Britain.