The late recurrence of grade I transitional cell carcinoma of the ureter after conservative therapy

When is partial ureterectomy acceptable for transitional-cell carcinoma of the ureter?

Because the disease is so often multifocal and has a high likelihood of recurrence, transitional-cell carcinoma of the ureter traditionally has been treated by nephroureterectomy. As reviewed in this article, partial ureterectomy may be a feasible option for some patients, particularly those with a solitary kidney, bilateral tumors, or renal insufficiency. This conservative procedure also may be appropriate for patients with grade 1 and possibly grade 2 tumors in stage Ta/T1.

Treatment of distal ureteral tumors using endoscopic argon photoirradiation

This is the first report on the use of endoscopic argon photoirradiation to treat patients with low-grade ureteral tumors involving the distal ureter. Using a rigid ureteropyeloscope, a 300 mu or 600 mu quartz fiber, and 5 watts (W) of power in a continuous-wave mode, the lesions were ablated without complication. Patients remain free of ureteral recurrence after 5, 7, and 22 months. We conclude that the shallow (1 mm) depth of penetration and the ability to use the fiber in either a contact or noncontact mode provide the surgeon a large margin of safety and low risk of ureteral perforation.

Tumours of the renal pelvis and ureter. Observations in 170 patients

A study was made of 170 patients with renal pelvis or ureteric tumours, 160 of whom underwent surgery between 1948 and 1981. The most important aetiological factor was chronic phenacetin abuse: 21.7% of 83 patients with renal pelvis tumours and 11.4% of those with ureteric tumours gave a history of phenacetin abuse. The latency periods ranged from 24 to 26 years. This is the first report of a relationship between abuse of analgesics and urothelial tumours from the Federal Republic of Germany.

Primary carcinoma of ureters

Thirty-two patients with primary carcinoma of the ureter were treated at our institution from 1961 to 1968 using various modes of therapy. Sixteen of these patients underwent segmental resections, with a five-year survival of 71.4 per cent and a ureteral recurrence rate of 6 per cent. Twelve other patients received a complete nephroureterectomy, with a subsequent five-year survival of 50 per cent. We believe that segmental resection is indicated for all low-grade and low-stage primary ureteral tumors regardless of their location and with a small change for recurrence.