[ Monash University ]

Museum of Pathology



Clinical History

A 64 year old man with intermittent haematuria of 2 years duration and some frequency and dysuria was found on examination to have a palpable bladder extending to the umbilicus and an enlarged prostate. Following catheterization, his condition steadily deteriorated with vomiting, disorientation and death.


The specimen includes bladder, prostate and a diverticulum sliced coronally and viewed from the anterior aspect. The bladder is enlarged and there is muscular hypertrophy and fibrosis of the wall. The median lobe of the hyperplastic prostate projects into the base of the bladder. On the right there is a large vesical diverticulum which communicates with the bladder through the small passage containing the probe. Both the bladder and diverticulum are lined by dark haemorrhagic material. This is an example of prostatic hyperplasia associated with a vesical diverticulum. At necropsy, bladder and diverticulum were filled with blood clot.


A bladder diverticulum may be either congenital or acquired. Acquired diverticula are associated with urinary obstruction. Complications of diverticula include infection and stone formation.