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noninvasive papillary carcinoma

(NON-in-VAY-siv PA-pih-LAYR-ee KAR-sih-NOH-muh)
A condition in which abnormal cells are found in the tissue lining the inside of the bladder, renal pelvis, or ureter. Noninvasive papillary carcinoma may look like long, thin, finger-like growths under a microscope and can be low grade or high grade, depending on how abnormal the cells look. These abnormal cells may become cancer and spread into nearby normal tissue. Noninvasive papillary carcinoma is also called stage 0a bladder cancer or stage 0a transitional cell cancer of the renal pelvis and ureter.
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Stage 0 bladder cancer (noninvasive bladder cancer); drawing shows the bladder, lumen (the space where urine collects), ureter, prostate, and urethra. The first inset shows stage 0a (also called noninvasive papillary carcinoma) on the inner lining of the bladder. The second inset shows stage 0is (also called carcinoma in situ) on the inner lining of the bladder. Also shown are the connective tissue and muscle layers of the bladder and the layer of fat around the bladder.Enlarge this image in new window
Stage 0 bladder cancer (noninvasive bladder cancer). Cancer cells are found in tissue lining the inside of the bladder but have not invaded into the bladder wall. Stage 0a (also called noninvasive papillary carcinoma) may look like long, thin growths extending into the bladder lumen (the space where urine collects). Stage 0is (also called carcinoma in situ) is a flat tumor on the tissue lining the inside of the bladder.
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