Trigonitis??

[Janie Miranda]

I was recently diagnosed with trigonitis and put on long term antibiotics. Has anyone else ever had this diagnosis? What were you treated with and for how long? What was the outcome of the treatment? Thanks,
janie M

[Katrina]

This is a review of question 125: Trigonitis is a non-specific reference to changes seen on a portion of the bladder floor called the trigone when evaluated with a cystoscope. It is a "generic" term commonly used by urologists and typically refers to squamous metaplasia.

The trigone is a triangular structure with boundaries between the two ureteral orifices (the openings that bring urine down from the kidney) and the bladder neck (the funnel portion of the bladder where it meets the urethra). Squamous metaplasia is also called "pseudomembranous trigonitis". It occurs when normal bladder lining cells (urothelium) are replaced with squamous (skin-derived) cells. It appears as a white, patchy, bumpy area on the trigone and bladder neck region: kind of like a thin white membrane.

The trigone is derived (embryologically) from the same origin as the vagina and therefore responds to changes in estrogen levels. The changes in the trigone as described above are actually due to low levels of estrogen and do not represent a pathologic or disease state. This is typically found in postmenopausal women but can also be found in younger women with fluctuating levels of estrogen and in men treated with hormones for prostate cancer. Autopsy studies have shown squamous metaplasia to occur in the bladder of nearly half of women and fewer than 10% of men. This then represents a normal finding and is not associated with inflammation and does not produce any symptoms.

Why so many patients are told they have "trigonitis" is a question I cannot answer. However, if symptoms persist, a distinct, pathologic diagnosis is mandatory by obtaining further studies, such as hydro distention to rule out IC, or even seeking a second opinion.


From what I am reading at ICN it looks like there is a debate between weather IC and trigonitis are different....weather they are connected...or what.
icnmgrjill> DO YOU BELIEVE THAT TRIGONITIS IS A DIFFERENT DISEASE?

<Dr. Briggs> I don't think it is a different disease. I believe that it is a real condition and is part of the IC syndrome.

[Janie Miranda]

Katrina,
Thank you for finding that for me. Very interesting.
Jane