Management of superficial transitional cell carcinoma in the intramural ureter: what to do?

PURPOSE: We analyze the evolution of superficial transitional cell carcinoma in the intramural distal ureter treated with transurethral resection. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 19 patients underwent transurethral resection of the intramural distal ureter with a mean followup of 57 months. All cases were diagnosed as superficial transitional cell carcinoma and all but 2 had a history of bladder tumor. Upper urinary tract followup consisted of excretory urography every 6 months and ureterorenoscopy in cases with a doubtful diagnosis or positive cytology. RESULTS: Pathological examination revealed stage Ta disease in 42%, T1 in 31.5% and Tx in 26.3% of intramural tumors. Upper urinary tract recurrence was noted in 8 patients (42.1%), including 5 (62.5%) with involvement of the distal ureter. Nontumoral stenosis of the distal ureter in 3 cases was treated endoscopically. An endoscopic procedure resolved 75% of recurrences. A high surgical risk patient who did not undergo open surgery died of recurrence. CONCLUSIONS: Superficial transitional cell carcinoma of the intramural ureter is uncommon in the setting of multiple bladder tumors and recurrent bladder carcinoma. There was a 42.1% rate of ipsilateral recurrence and endoscopic treatment allowed us to preserve 89.5% of the involved renal units. Closer followup of the urinary tract must be performed since these tumors have a higher incidence of upper urinary tract recurrence.     

Simultaneous bilateral renal pelvic tumors: a case report]

A case of simultaneous bilateral renal pelvic tumors is reported. A 64-year-old man with the chief complaint of gross hematuria and left flank pain was admitted. Clinical investigations revealed a tumor in the right pelvis and ureter, and another tumor in the left renal pelvis. The right ureteral tumor had invaded the bladder. Right nephroureterectomy, total cystectomy, left partial pyelectomy and ureterocutaneostomy were performed. By pathological examination, right renal pelvic and ureteral tumors were non-papillary transitional cell carcinoma, grade 3, pT4, and the left renal pelvic tumor was papillary transitional cell carcinoma, grade 2, pT1. To our knowledge, this is the 16th case of simultaneous bilateral urothelial tumors of the upper urinary tract in Japan.     

后腹腔镜下肾输尿管全长切除加经尿道膀胱袖状切除治疗上尿路上皮癌

目的：探讨后腹腔镜下肾输尿管全长切除加经尿道膀胱袖状切除术治疗上尿路上皮癌的临床效果。方法：上尿路上皮癌患者68例,男23例,女45例,平均年龄63（43-78）岁。肾盂癌55例,输尿管上段肿瘤4例,输尿管下段肿瘤9例。其中输尿管下段肿瘤合并膀胱肿瘤1例。经尿道膀胱镜患侧输尿管逆行插入输尿管导管引流肾盂尿,用电切镜针状电极距输尿管口周围约0．5cm环形切透膀胱壁,分离出输尿管开口及膀胱壁内段。拔除输尿管导管,电凝输尿管开口,使开口封闭,减少肿瘤细胞种植机会。采用腰部3个穿刺套管针人路,行后腹腔镜下根治性肾切除,输尿管尽量向下游离,如果是肾盂癌或输尿管上段肿瘤,用腹腔镜分离钳可以将下段输尿管提拉出来,扩大套管切口,将肾输尿管全长完整取出,避免了下腹部开放切口;如果是下段输尿管肿瘤,则需下腹部行5-7cm切口,先取出。肾标本,再行输尿管下段切除术。结果：68例手术顺利。手术时间平均120（90-240）min,术中出血量平均60（40-500）ml,1例需输血。术后引流管留置时间平均4（3-7）d,导尿管留置时间平均8（7-15）d。拔除尿管后均行B超检查无膀胱漏尿。术后病理报告均为尿路上皮癌。65例患者获随访平均18（3-38）个月。58例患者无瘤生存,3例死于心脑血管及肺部疾病。4例术后患膀胱肿瘤而行电切治疗。结论：后腹腔镜下肾输尿管全长切除加经尿道膀胱袖状切除治疗上尿路上皮癌,手术安全易行,用电切镜环状切除输尿管开口及膀胱壁内段可完整切除输尿管,对输尿管开口进行电凝封闭可减少肿瘤细胞种植。对肾盂癌及上段输尿管肿瘤患者可避免行下腹部开放切口的输尿管下段切除术,有效减少创伤,疗效可靠,无肿瘤种植转移。     

后腹腔镜下肾输尿管切除加经尿道膀胱袖状切除治疗上尿路上皮癌

目的 探讨后腹腔镜下肾输尿管切除加经尿道膀胱袖状切除治疗上尿路上皮癌的临床效果.方法 上尿路上皮癌患者82例(肾盂癌69例,输尿管癌13例).男39例,女43例.平均年龄65(37～82)岁.电切镜经尿道膀胱袖状分离输尿管管口及壁内段,后腹腔镜下切除肾、输尿管.观察手术时间、术中出血量、引流管留置时间、尿管留置时间、术后住院日及术后并发症等.随访肿瘤转移与复发情况.结果 82例手术顺利.手术平均时间135(95～210)min.术中平均失血110(60～260)ml.术后引流管平均留置3(2～4)d.尿管平均留置6(5～7)d.术后平均住院7(6～9)d.74例患者获随访平均31(6～76)个月.高级别浸润性癌随访16例,复发转移3例;高级别与低级别非浸润性癌分别随访29例,膀胱内复发5例(高级别3例,低级别2例);切口部位肿瘤转移复发1例.3年随访肿瘤复发率为10.6%(5/47).结果 后腹腔镜下肾输尿管切除加经尿道膀胱袖状切除治疗上尿路上皮癌,输尿管口周围组织及输尿管壁内段切除确切,创伤小、康复快,手术安全易行,疗效可靠.     

Percutaneous Treatment of Transitional Cell Carcinoma of the Upper Urinary Tract

Background We evaluated the long-term effect of percutaneous resection in 2 Japanese patients with transitional cell carcinoma of the renal pelvis, and reviewed the medical literature on similar patients, to determine the appropriate indications for percutaneous treatment of transitional cell carcinoma in the upper urinary tract.
Results Indications for endoscopic resection in the 2 patients were renal insufficiency and unsuitability for major open surgery. The patients had no recurrence during follow-up. Seven previous reports described percutaneous resection of upper urinary tract transitional cell carcinoma in 82 patients. Although 72.6% of the patients were successfully treated by percutaneous resection, half of the patients with grade 3 carcinoma developed recurrence.
Conclusion These results, together with those of the 7 published reports, suggest that percutaneous resection should be limited to selected patients with low-grade transitional cell carcinoma.     

Extracorporeal surgery and autotransplantation for carcinoma of the pelvis and ureter.

Multiple transitional cell tumours of the renal pelvis and proximal ureter of a solitary kidney were successfully managed by total ureterectomy, extracorporeal subtotal resection of the renal pelvis, autotransplantation, and calicovesicostomy. The method permits resection of a maximum of the uroepithelium of the upper urinary tract at the same time as it preserves available renal parenchyma. It also implies a new and exciting approach to the renal pelvis for endoscopic postoperative control and local treatment of the malignancy.     

Results of conservative treatment of upper urinary tract transitional cell carcinoma

BACKGROUND: The treatment preserving the kidney for upper urinary tract tumor is still controversial. The indications and results of conservative treatment remain to be elucidated. Experiences of this type of treatment are reported. METHODS: Between April 1981 and March 1998, 14 patients with upper urinary tract transitional cell carcinoma were treated with renal preserving methods. Five were elective and nine were imperative cases. Treatments performed were partial nephrectomy, partial ureterctomy with or without adjuvant chemotherapy, endoscopic tumor resection and topical bacillus Calmette-Guerin instillation in one, 10, two and one patient, respectively. RESULTS: Crude and cause-specific 5 year-survival rates were 91.7 and 100%, respectively. Of 14 patients, five had bladder recurrences, but ipsilateral local recurrence developed in only one patient. Two patients died from metastasis of transitional cell carcinoma 61 and 89 months after initial treatment. The lesions of carcinoma in situ were well controlled with topical bacillus Calmette-Guerin therapy. CONCLUSION: The results of conservative treatment for upper urinary tract tumor were satisfactory and local excision can be indicated for low grade, solitary tumors located in the distal ureter.     

内镜下钬激光治疗早期上尿路上皮肿瘤特殊病例1O例报告

目的探讨内镜下钬激光治疗特殊早期上尿路上皮肿瘤的安全性及有效性。方法2002年4月～2010年5月,对10例不适合行根治性。肾输尿管切除术的早期上尿路上皮肿瘤患者行内镜下钬激光治疗,其中输尿管肿瘤7例（1例合并膀胱肿瘤）,肾盂肿瘤3例。单发7例,多发3例。术前肿瘤分期cTa～cT1。3例对侧已行肾输尿管全长切除,2例孤立肾,3例肾功能不全,1例2～3级心功能不全,1例肿瘤小（〈1cm,位于。肾盂,单发且表浅）。输尿管硬镜治疗7例,软镜1例,微通道经皮肾镜2例。术后行丝裂霉素上尿路及膀胱灌注化疗。结果10例术后随访2年,无肿瘤死亡。1例术后6个月输尿管狭窄,其余均未出现大出血、严重感染、周围脏器损伤及全身肿瘤转移。复发4例,其中1例输尿管合并膀胱肿瘤者膀胱内复发,1例为肾盂内单发肿瘤复发,2例为输尿管单发肿瘤复发。该4例随访5年,1例未见肿瘤复发与转移,3例复发3—4次,且为尿路多处复发,行肾盂输尿管癌根治术,其中2例术后血液透析1年内肿瘤转移死亡。结论对不适合行根治性肾输尿管切除术的早期上尿路上皮肿瘤,内镜下钬激光治疗短期内是安全有效的。     

Utility of the Bard BTA Test in Detecting Upper Urinary Tract Transitional Cell Carcinoma

Objectives. The Bard BTA test has been shown in early studies to be useful in diagnosing transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) of the bladder. However, the utility of this test has not been evaluated for TCC of the upper urinary tract. We therefore evaluated the clinical utility of the BTA test for upper urinary TCC.Methods. We tested 71 specimens from the ureter and/or renal pelvis in 22 patients with a history or clinical suspicion for TCC and 9 patients with benign disorders.Results. When compared to cytologic diagnoses, BTA had a sensitivity of 65%, a specificity of 40% (when correlated with clinical history), a false-positive rate of 33%, and a false-negative rate of 62%. The test had a positive predictive value of 83% and a negative predictive value of 32%.Conclusions. The BTA does not have any clinical value in detecting upper urinary tract TCC.     

低分期上尿路上皮癌根治手术不加膀胱袖状切除的可行性分析

目的 分析低分期肾盂及中上段输尿管尿路上皮癌行根治性肾切除术与经典肾盂癌根治性手术后肿瘤复发率的差异,探讨低分期上尿路上皮癌患者不行膀胱袖状切除的可行性.方法 回顾性分析2000-2007年收治73例上尿路上皮癌患者的资料.男36例,女37例.平均年龄66(45～87)岁.其中肾盂癌46例,中上段输尿管癌27例.根据术式分为经典肾盂癌根治性手术组(35例)和根治性肾切除组(38例).分析2组患者病理及随访结果,比较2组患者术后复发率的差异.结果 经典肾盂癌根治性手术组肿瘤复发8例(22.9%),其中T1患者复发率20.0%(3/15);根治性肾切除组肿瘤复发8例(21.1%),其中T1患者复发率19.0%(4/21),2组总复发率和T1肿瘤复发率差异无统计学意义(P>0.05).经典肾盂癌根治性手术组19例肾盂癌中,肿瘤复发4例(21.1%);16例中上段输尿管癌中,肿瘤复发4例(25.0%),2组肿瘤复发率差异无统计学意义(P>0.05).根治性肾切除组27例肾盂癌中,肿瘤复发3例(11.1%);11例中上段输尿管癌中,肿瘤复发5例(45.5%),2组肿瘤复发率差异有统计学意义(P<0.05).结论 低分期上尿路上皮癌患者可不行膀胱袖状切除术,但肿瘤位于输尿管者应行膀胱袖状切除术.     

Overview of the results of the treatment of transitional cell carcinoma by ureteroscopy

Conservative treatment of the transitional cell carcinoma of the upper urinary tract by ureteroscopy is currently a therapeutic approach which is accepted by urologists. Recurrences are frequent (0-65%), as well as in bladder tumors; the longer the follow-up of the series the higher the recurrence. Multifocality, history of bladder tumor or renal pelvis localization are prognostic factors for recurrence. The treatment of recurrences may be conservative or radical depending on grade, stage and multifocality.     

The outcome of patients on dialysis with upper urinary tract transitional cell carcinoma

PURPOSE: Transitional cell carcinoma is the most common upper urinary tract cancer in Taiwanese patients on dialysis. It is a unique finding compared with Western countries. Unfortunately, the long-term outcomes of patients with upper urinary tract transitional cell carcinoma on dialysis are largely unknown. This study presents clinical outcome of patients on dialysis with upper urinary tract transitional cell carcinoma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of all patients with upper urinary tract transitional cell carcinoma who had end stage renal disease and underwent dialysis. Traditional prognostic factors including age, sex, tumor grade, stage and tumor location were analyzed with respect to disease recurrence and survival. RESULTS: A total of 73 patients were included in this study. The major complaints were painless gross hematuria and urethral bloody discharge. Disease relapsed in 40 (54.8%) patients at average time of 15 months (2 to 92). Univariate analysis failed to identify significant prognostic factors for recurrence. The average duration between primary and contralateral metachronous upper urinary tract transitional cell carcinoma recurrence was 36 months (range 5 to 96). Patients on dialysis with upper urinary tract transitional cell carcinoma who had previous or concurrent bladder tumor, or who had a history of recurrent bladder tumor, had high contralateral upper urinary tract transitional cell carcinoma recurrence. (p = 0.038) The statistically significant prognostic factor for disease-free survival was pT stage (p = 0.041). CONCLUSIONS: Patients on dialysis with painless gross hematuria or bloody urethral discharge must undergo detail urinary system evaluation. Since patients with upper urinary tract transitional cell carcinoma on dialysis have a high recurrence rate and metachronous or even multiple, early synchronous tumor characteristics that may be missed by imaging, total urinary tract exenteration is a recommended therapeutic option.     

后腹腔镜联合经尿道电切镜治疗上尿路移行细胞癌(附83例报告)

目的 探讨后腹腔镜联合经尿道电切镜治疗上尿路移行细胞癌的效果和安全性. 方法 2003年3月～2006年7月,我院采用后腹腔镜联合经尿道电切镜治疗83例上尿路移行细胞癌.经尿道袖状电切患侧输尿管口周围1.5 cm范围膀胱壁达膀胱外脂肪组织,采用后腹腔镜切除肾及全长输尿管.术后留置导尿管7 d.11例术后辅助放疗. 结果 83例手术均成功.手术时间115～205 min,平均156 min.术中出血50～150 ml,平均80 ml.无术中并发症.术后住院7～11 d,平均8.5 d.病理报告：82例上尿路移行细胞癌,1例肾盂上皮中～重度不典型增生.术后随访3～38个月,平均10.8月.术后12个月内行膀胱镜检查发现膀胱肿瘤6例,其中5例行经尿道膀胱肿瘤电切,1例行腹腔镜根治性膀胱全切术、左侧输尿管皮肤造口术.2例肾盂肿瘤（pT3 G3和pT2 G3）于术后3个月肝转移.2例输尿管中段肿瘤（pT3 G3和pT3 G2～3）术后6个月原位复发并肺转移.1例输尿管下段肿瘤（pT3 G3）术后6个月骨转移.失访1例.其余71例均未发现肿瘤复发、切口转移及远处转移. 结论 对于上尿路移行细胞癌,采用后腹腔镜联合经尿道电切镜行肾、输尿管全切及膀胱袖套状切除具有创伤小、安全、恢复快等优点,值得临床推广应用.     

Inverted papilloma of the upper urinary tract

Four cases of inverted papilloma in the upper urinary tract are reported-three were located in the ureter and one in the renal pelvis. Clinical and pathological findings are described. In two cases the patients had a history of transitional cell carcinoma; while in one case, inverted papilloma was found in the same lesion as transitional cell carcinoma. The question of malignant transformation of inverted papilloma is discussed. It is concluded that inverted papilloma is a benign tumor with a very low frequency of recurrence, but regular follow-up is advised.     

Primary carcinoma in situ of the upper urinary tract: a case report]

A case of primary carcinoma in situ of the upper urinary tract in a 72-year-old woman is reported. The patient who complained of left lower abdominal pain was referred for a suspicion of left ureteral stone. An excretory pyelogram showed mild left ureteral stricuture at the level of L3, but a stone was not detected in the ureter at the same level. Cytology of voided urine was positive for malignant cells several times. Cystoscopic examination revealed no abnormality in the bladder. Retrograde left pyelogram demonstrated the ureteral stricture and no lesions either of stone or tumor in the ureter. However malignant cells were detected cytologically in the left ureteral catheteral urine. Left total nephroureterectomy with the bladder cuff was carried out under the preoperative diagnosis of carcinoma in situ of the upper urinary tract. Macroscopically, the wall of the ureter at the stenotic level had induration without apparent tumor mass. The pathological diagnosis was transitional cell carcinoma in situ from the renal pelvis to the mid-ureter. The primary carcinoma in situ of the upper urinary tract is rare. To our knowledge, this case is the 26th case reported in the Japanese literature.     

Upper urinary tract transitional cell carcinoma in patients with bladder carcinoma and associated vesicoureteral reflux

Of 269 patients with bladder neoplasms treated during a 20-year period 47 had associated vesicoureteral reflux. All 47 patients were followed for 3 years or more, or until death. Upper urinary tract transitional cell cancer developed in 3, each of whom had recurrent bladder cancer. Among the 222 patients who had vesical cancer without reflux transitional cell carcinoma of the ureter developed in only 1, 11 years after transurethral resection for a bladder tumor. The incidences of upper tract transitional cell cancer in patients with and without vesicoureteral reflux were 6.4 and 0.44 per cent, respectively, which support the suggested role of reflux in disseminating or seeding of cancer cells from the bladder into the upper urinary tract. Patients with bladder cancer and associated vesicoureteral reflux have an approximately 15-fold greater risk of upper tract cancer developing compared with those without reflux. We recommend vigilant scrutiny of patients with recurrent bladder cancer and associated vesicoureteral reflux for early detection of upper urinary tract transitional cell carcinoma.     

肾移植术后并发双侧自体肾盂和输尿管移行细胞癌16例

目的 总结肾移植术后发生双侧自体肾盂、输尿管移行细胞癌的诊治经验.方法 回顾性分析16例肾移植术后发生双侧自体肾盂、输尿管移行细胞癌患者的资料.首次发现上尿路肿瘤的时间为移植后(56.2±33.0)个月.2例同时发现双侧上尿路肿瘤,其余14例双侧上尿路肿瘤先后发现的时间间隔为(8.6±6.7)个月.临床症状和检查阳性结果以血尿和自体肾积水为主.均行自体上尿路根治性切除术,术后行膀胱灌注化疗.结果 16例手术均成功.32次自体肾、输尿管的病理检查结果均为移行细胞癌,包括单纯肾盂肿瘤4次,单纯输尿管肿瘤9次,合并肾盂、输尿管肿瘤19次.23次肾盂肿瘤的分级为1级8例,2级11例,3级4例;28次输尿管肿瘤的分级为1级6例,2级10例,3级12例.术后随访(26.8±25.1)个月,1例出现肺部转移后死亡;1例发生腰背部软组织转移性移行细胞癌,局部切除;其他患者未发现肿瘤复发及转移.结论 肾移植后自体上尿路移行细胞癌的常见表现为血尿合并自体肾积水,该肿瘤侵袭性较强,对于膀胱及一侧自体上尿路同时存在移行细胞癌者,应行对侧自体肾上尿路预防性切除术.

Abstract：

Objective To investigate the clinical features of bilateral native pelvic and ureteral transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) in renal transplant patients. Methods A retrospective analysis was carried out on 16 patients with bilateral native pelvic and ureteral TCC after kidney transplantation.The mean time between transplantation and diagnosis of upper urinary TCC was 56. 2 ± 33. 0 months.Two patients were suffered from bilateral upper urinary TCC at the same time. The mean interval between 2 upper urinary tract operations of the remaining 14 cases was 8. 6 ± 6. 7 months. Hematuria and hydronephrosis of native kidneys were the main symptoms and targets in checkup. Intravesical chemotherapy was postoperatively given. Results All operations were performed successfully. All specimens obtained from the operations were pathologically diagnosed as TCC. The TCC location involved pure native pelvis (n = 4), pure native ureter (n = 9), and pelvis combined with ureter (n = 19). Pelvic TCC pathological grades included grade 1 in 8 cases, grade 2 in 11 cases, and grade 3 in 4 cases; Ureteral TCC grades included grade 1 in 6 cases, grade 2 in 10 cases, and grade 3 in 12 cases.Patients were followed up for 26. 8 ± 25. 1 months. One patient died of lung metastasis. (One case of lumbar soft tissue transfer was given local excision. The remaining patients had no recurrence and metastasis. Conclusion Renal transplant patients with hematuria and native renal hydronephrosis should be highly vigilant of the occurrence of upper urinary tract TCC. TCC after renal transplantation is invasive. Prophylactic contralateral nephroureterectomy should be performed on the recipients having TCC at the bladder and one side of native upper urinary tract.     

Upper urinary tract urothelial cell carcinoma: location as a predictive factor for concomitant bladder carcinoma

Objective

To investigate the existence of predictive factors for concomitant, primary UUT-UCC and BC. Upper urinary tract urothelial cell carcinoma (UUT-UCC) is a pan-urothelial disease of the transitional epithelial cells. Although several studies have shown the association of bladder recurrence following UUT-UCC, little is known on the incidence of concomitant UUT-UCC and bladder cancer (BC) without previous BC.

Materials and methods

A retrospective review of 673 patients diagnosed and treated for UUT-UCC was performed. Patients with history of BC were excluded. We investigated age, sex, location of the upper tract tumor (calyx, renal pelvis, upper ureter, mid-ureter, lower ureter), multifocality, clinical symptoms, tumor grade and pathological stage. Contingency tables and chi-square test were used for categorical variables and analysis of variance (ANOVA) for quantitative variables.

Results

450 patients eligible for inclusion were identified. Of these, 76 (17 %) presented concomitant primary UUT-UCC and BC. Location of primary UUT-UCC was in calyx and/or renal pelvis in 25 patients (34 %), upper ureter 8 (11 %) and lower ureter 37 (49 %). In 6 patients (8 %), data were missing. Concomitant BC was found in 10, 18, and 33 % of patients with primary caliceal/renal pelvis, upper ureter and lower ureter UUT-UCC, respectively. On multivariate analysis, location of UUT-UCC was the only predictive factor for concomitant bladder tumor (OR: 1.7; 95 % CI, 1.007–2.906 p = 0.047).

Conclusions

Our findings suggest that the possibility of concomitant BC in primary diagnosed patient with UUT-UCC is as high as 33 % and mainly depends on upper tract tumor location.     

上尿路移行细胞癌12例误诊分析

目的探讨上尿路移行细胞癌的误诊原因。方法回顾性分析12例上尿路移行细胞癌患者在诊治过程中的误诊情况。误诊为肾炎4例,上尿路结石3例,泌尿系感染3例,肾结核1例,前列腺增生1例。结果 12例患者均经手术治疗,术后病理证实肾盂移行细胞癌9例,输尿管移行细胞癌3例,伴膀胱移行细胞癌2例。通过B超、静脉尿路造影（IVU）、逆行肾盂造影、CT、输尿管镜及膀胱镜等检查均提示发现肿瘤病灶。8例患者随访6个月~15年,3例死于肿瘤进展,2例术后出现膀胱移行细胞癌。结论对长期血尿病史患者需进一步病因检查,B超、IVU、CT等影像学检查具有重要的诊断价值,同时应提高对检查结果的正确分析和判读能力。     

Bladder tumor recurrence after primary surgery for transitional cell carcinoma of the upper urinary tract

OBJECTIVE: Primary transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) of the upper urinary tract represents 6-8% of all TCC cases. Nephroureterectomy with removal of a bladder cuff is the treatment of choice. The rates of TCC recurrence in the bladder after primary upper urinary tract surgery described in the literature range between 12.5 and 37.5%. In a retrospective analysis we examined the occurrence of TCC after nephroureterectomy for upper tract TCC in patients without a previous history of bladder TCC at the time of surgery. METHODS: Between 1990 and 2002, 29 patients underwent primary nephroureterectomy for upper tract TCC. The mean age of the patients was 69.5 years. In 5 cases upper urinary tract tumors were multilocular, in the remaining cases unilocular in the renal pelvis (n=12) or the ureter (n=12). The follow-up was available for 29 patients with a mean follow-up of 3.37 (0.1-11.2) years. RESULTS: 11/29 (37.9%) patients had TCC recurrence with 9/11 patients having bladder TCC diagnosed within 2.5 years (0.9-6.0) after nephroureterectomy. 13/29 patients are alive without TCC recurrence, 3/29 patients died due to systemic TCC progression and 5/29 died of unrelated causes without evidence of TCC recurrence. CONCLUSION: Our data indicate a high incidence of bladder TCC after nephroureterectomy for primary upper tract TCC of up to 6 years after primary surgery. Because of the high incidence of bladder TCC within the first 3 years of surgery, careful follow-up is needed over at least this period.