Bladder Lymphoma and Leukemia

The urinary bladder is rarely involved by hematopoietic neoplasms (lymphoma and leukemia). Lymphomas represent approximately 0.2% of all neoplasms of the bladder. Bladder lymphomas can be either primary or secondary to systemic lymphomas. Primary bladder lymphomas are extremely rare and most commonly seen in middle-aged women. Marginal zone lymphoma of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT lymphoma) is the most common primary bladder lymphoma. Some studies suggest that primary bladder lymphomas may be associated with chronic cystitis, but this relationship is controversial. Primary bladder lymphomas are generally thought to be indolent with a favorable prognosis. Secondary bladder lymphomas are much more common, usually occurring in patients with systemic lymphomas at an advanced stage. Chronic lymphocytic leukemia/small lymphocytic lymphoma and diffuse large B-cell lymphoma are the most common secondary bladder lymphomas. The prognosis of patients with secondary bladder lymphomas is poor. In contrast to lymphomas, acute leukemia involving the bladder is less frequent. The acute leukemia in the bladder includes acute myeloid leukemia, B-lymphoblastic leukemia/lymphoma, or T-lymphoblastic leukemia/lymphoma, with the acute myeloid leukemia being more often than the lymphoblastic leukemia.