IPLab:Lab 2:Metaplasia

Clinical Summary

This 30-year-old black male was born with a meningocele which was repaired in childhood. Despite repair of the meningocele, this patient continued to have a neurogenic bladder.

Six months previous to this admission, the patient passed a single renal calculus but intravenous pyelogram (IVP) showed left nephrolithiasis (a 1 cm stone in the lower lobe). For 6 months the patient had to be catheterized each day for 6 hours. However, he continued to complain of hesitancy and urgency and suffered occasional urinary tract infections.

On this admission, a culture of the patient's urine specimen grew Gram-negative bacilli (Proteus species). Cystoscopy showed heavy trabeculation of the bladder with early diverticula and the left ureteral orifice showed squamous metaplasia. The lower pole of the left kidney was removed surgically, following which the patient recovered and was discharged on antibiotics.

Images

• 
  Gross photograph of this kidney with a stone (arrow) in the renal pelvis.
• 
  This is a low-power photomicrograph showing the full cortical and medullary thickness of the kidney. Note that there is a dilated calyx containing some red blood cells in the center of the section (arrow). The cortex is markedly thin and has severe lesions of degeneration and atrophy, although these are hard to appreciate at this low magnification.
• 
  This higher-power photomicrograph demonstrates the transitional epithelium lining the renal calyx (1) and the junction (transition zone) to a thicker hyperplastic epithelium (2). Note the inflammatory cells and increased vascular response in the stromal tissue (3) lying beneath the epithelium.
• 
  A higher-power view shows more normal epithelium (1) with a transition to hyperplastic and metaplastic epithelium (2). Note the inflammatory cells in the subepithelial tissue.
• 
  In some areas the epithelium takes on morphologic characteristics of squamous epithelium (arrows) as found in the dermis. However, squamous epithelium is not normal in the renal pelvis. This adaptive change is referred to as squamous metaplasia.

Study Questions

• What is a neurogenic bladder and what complications may result from this condition?

A neurogenic bladder is any condition or dysfunction of the urinary bladder caused by a lesion of the central or peripheral nervous system. Complications primarily include stasis, infection, and stone formation.

• What factors in this case predisposed to nephrolithiasis?

Stasis and infection.

• Does this metaplastic process predispose to neoplasia?

No.

Additional Resources

Reference

• eMedicine Medical Library: Nephrolithiasis
• eMedicine Medical Library: Neurogenic Bladder
• Merck Manual: Urinary Calculi
• Merck Manual: Neurogenic Bladder
• Merck Manual: Approach to the Genitourinary Patient

Journal Articles

• Barbera M, Fitzgerald RC. Cellular Mechanisms of Barrett's Esophagus Development. Surg Oncol Clin N Am 2009 18:393–410.
• Spechler SJ and Souza RF. Barrett’s Esophagus. N Engl J Med 2014 371:836-45.
• Barbera M, Fitzgerald RC. Cellular origin of Barrett’s metaplasia and oesophageal stem cells. Biochem. Soc. Trans 2010 38:370–373.
• Mills JC and Sansom OJ. Reserve stem cells: Differentiated cells reprogram to fuel repair, metaplasia, and neoplasia in the adult gastrointestinal tract. Sci. Signal 2015 8(385):re8.
• Clouston B and Lawrentschuk N. Metaplastic conditions of the bladder. BJU Int2013 112(Suppl 2):27-31.

Images

• PEIR Digital Library: Bladder Images
• WebPath: Renal Pathology Images

A meningocele is the herniation of the CSF-filled meningeal sac through a vertebral defect.

Neurogenic bladder is a dysfunction of the bladder caused by a nervous system lesion.

A renal calculus is a "kidney stone."

The patient is given an intravenous injection of contrast medium that rapidly enters the urine. Radiographs are then taken to show the passage of the contrast-containing urine through the pelvicaliceal system.

Nephrolithiasis is the presence of a urinary calculus within the kidney.

Hesitancy is the inability to begin the stream of urine.

Urgency is the experience of an intense and immediate desire to void.

Cystoscopy is the direct visual examination of the bladder via a cystoscope.

A bladder diverticulum is an out-pouching of the bladder wall, usually caused by chronic urethral obstruction.