Cystitis Cystica and Cystitis Glandularis

Cystitis cystica and glandularis are common chronic reactive inflammatory disorders characterized by urothelial metaplasia in response to chronic irritants such as infection, calculi, outlet obstruction, or tumor.

Pathologically, there is proliferation of the urothelium into buds (nests of von Brunn), which extend into the lamina propria. Cystitis cystica results if the nests differentiate into cysts. If the nests differentiate into intestinal mucin-secreting glands (goblet cells), we get cystitis glandularis. Both are usually present at the same time.

If there is invasion of the muscular layer, adenocarcinoma must be considered.

References

Wong-You-Cheong JJ, Woodward PJ, Manning MA, Davis CJ. From the archives of the AFIP: Inflammatory and nonneoplastic bladder masses: radiologic-pathologic correlation. Radiographics. 2006 Nov-Dec;26(6):1847-68.