We analyzed 1,821 cases of bladder tumors collected from the Annual of the Pathological Autopsy Cases in Japan, 1978-1982, published by the Japanese Pathological Society to determine the frequency of metastasis and metastatic sites. Study of age distribution revealed that the highest incidence was found in the 70-79 age group and that the male to female ratio was 2.95:1. Histologically, the tumors were transitional cell carcinoma in 1,393 cases (80.5%), squamous cell carcinoma in 185 cases (10.7%), adenocarcinoma in 64 cases (3.7%) and anaplastic cell carcinoma in 62 cases (3.6%). Metastasis was found in 1,275 cases (70.0%). The frequency of metastasis according to histological type was transitional cell carcinoma in 960 (69.8%), squamous cell carcinoma in 127 cases (76.5%), adenocarcinoma in 51 cases (86.4%) and anaplastic cell carcinoma in 53 cases (89.8%). Metastasis occurred in order of decreasing frequency in lymph nodes, lungs, liver, bones, peritoneum, kidneys, intestines, prostate, ureters and uterus. These findings were compatible with several previous statistical surveys of autopsy cases of bladder tumor.