Transitional Cell Carcinoma of the Bladder in a Ketamine User

Abstract

A 24-year-old female with 3 years of ketamine use attended the emergency department for recurrent right upper quadrant pain following a recent cholecystectomy and was found to have an incidental bladder mass on abdominal ultrasound. Her urinary symptoms at the time included urinary frequency, urgency, dysuria that have been worsening in the past 3 years. A cystoscopy and resection of bladder tumour was performed, and the mass was shown to be G1pTa low grade transitional cell carcinoma. No further urinary tract lesions on subsequent CT intravenous urogram. While there is no established association between ketamine use and bladder cancer, this case highlights the need of thorough and prompt investigations to rule out malignancy in ketamine users since the two diseases have many overlapping symptoms. Furthermore, this case report marks the first documented case of transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder in a patient who is suffering from ketamine cystitis. Further research is needed to look into the long-term effects of ketamine on the bladder.