Surgical Pathology Criteria–

Polypoid/Papillary Cystitis

Differential Diagnosis

Papillary Urothelial Neoplasms Papillary / Polypoid Cystitis
Delicate papillary stalks Broad, edematous base and stalks
Lining may be atypical Lined by normal urothelium
Frequent branching papillae Broad fronds, little branching

Papillary / Polypoid Cystitis Fibroepithelial Polyp
Papillae and polyps arise diffusely directly from the bladder wall Polypoid mass from which papillae and projections arise
Generalized/diffuse process Solitary lesion in most cases
Generalized inflammation even in late stages Inflammation not prominent
These two may not always be separable; both are benign

Nephrogenic Adenoma Papillary / Polypoid Cystitis
Papillae lined by single layer of cells, frequently hobnailed Papillae lined by normal multilayered transitional epithelium
No umbrella cells Normal umbrella cells present
Usually associated with tubular submucosal component No associated tubular component

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