Transitional cell carcinomas account for more than 90 percent of all bladder cancer. Early ones most commonly occur as one of more superficial papillary tumors that are easily treated. More advanced cases can invade the bladder's muscular wall.
About 8 percent of bladder cancers are the squamous cell type and usually have infiltrated the bladder wall at the time of diagnosis.
Adenocarcinomas account for about 2 percent of all bladder cancers. This type is likely to have spread from a primary cancer in the bowel.
Cancer may recur in the bladder or metastasize to other sites, such as the lymph nodes in the pelvis and groin, liver, lungs, and bones.
Carcinosarcoma is a very rare type of bladder cancer.