[Urothelial tumors of the upper urinary tract: epidemiologic study, diagnostic assessment, and treatment].

OBJECTIVES: The result of an epidemiological study and evaluation of diagnosis and treatment of transitional cell tumors of the upper urinary tract are presented. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted on 34 patients with transitional cell tumor of the upper urinary tract. RESULTS: The most common symptom was intermittent hematuria. Smoking was found to be the most important risk factor and 41.7% of the cases previously had a bladder cancer. IVP was the diagnostic technique most commonly utilized (61.7%). Nephroureterectomy was performed in 58.8% of the cases. Six cases had recurrence of the upper urinary tract tumor. There were 9 deaths (26.5%). CONCLUSIONS: The epidemiological data are similar to those of larger series. The tumors appear to develop in the presence of generalized urothelial disease. The low incidence of recurrence in the ipsilateral ureteral meatus indicates that resection of the distal ureter may not be required in patients at high risk.