Course Map: Tumor-like Lesions: Radiation Cystitis

Radiation Cystitis
Radiation therapy of any of the pelvic organs can result in tumor-like lesions of the bladder, months or years after such therapy [46, 51]. Microscopically, nodules of squamous epithelium push into the lamina propria without true invasive growth. The adjacent tissue is hemorrhagic and shows fibrin deposits and/or fibrinoid vascular changes. The deeper stroma often shows large, multinucleated stromal cells ("giant cell cystitis"). Four different cases are illustrated to show the repetitious histology of radiation cystitis.
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	Figure 1: Rounded nests of squamous epithelium (right), hemorrhage (center), and large, reactive stromal cells (arrows) are typical features of radiation cystitis.
	Figure 2: Aggregates of squamous epithelium and hemorrhage.
	Figure 3: Radiation cystitis showing fibrin deposits (asterisks), hemorrhage (lower right), and squamous nests (center).
	Figure 4: Fibrin deposits (asterisks) and squamous epithelium (higlighted), in addition to inflammation and vascular congestion.