A clinical survey of renal pelvic and ureteral tumors associated with bladder tumor

A clinical survey was performed on 80 cases of renal pelvic and ureteral transitional cell carcinomas we treated between January, 1963 and December, 1986. The cases included 30 of renal pelvic tumors, 17 of ureteral tumors, 3 of renal pelvic and ureteral tumors, 7 of renal pelvic and ureteral and bladder tumors, 16 of ureteral and bladder tumors and 7 of renal pelvic or ureteral tumors after treatment for bladder tumors. There were 37 cases of bladder tumors: 7 cases with preceding bladder tumors, 23 cases of synchronous bladder tumors, and 13 cases of subsequent bladder tumors. The 5-year survival for all cases was 60.2%. The 5-year survival for 43 cases unrelated with bladder tumors was 80.5% and that for 37 cases of bladder tumor was 41.6%. Therefore, there was a significant difference between these 2 groups (p less than 0.005). The 5-year survival for 50 cases without synchronous bladder tumors at first diagnosis was significantly higher than that for 23 cases with synchronous bladder tumors (p less than 0.001). Subsequent bladder tumors occurred after 2 to 48 months (mean 10 months) of the initial treatment for renal pelvic and ureteral tumors. Six of the 7 cases of preceeding bladder tumors were superficial tumors of pTa and pT1 and 3 cases had vesicoureteral reflux.     

A clinical investigation on renal pelvic and ureteral tumors]

Sixty-six patients with renal pelvic and ureteral tumors were treated in our hospital between June 1974 and June 1991. These cases consisted of 27 renal pelvic tumors, 31 ureteral tumors and 8 renal pelvic and ureteral tumors. Their ages ranged from 43 to 86 years old (average: 65). There were 46 males and 20 females. The surgical method involved total nephroureterectomy with a cuff for 44 patients, nephroureterectomy for 3, nephrectomy for 9, total nephroureterectomy with total cystectomy for 5 and partial ureterectomy for 2. Histologically, there were 60 transitional cell carcinomas (TCC), 2 squamous cell carcinomas (SCC) and 4 TCC with SCC. As for the pathological stage, 13 were pTa, 16 pT1, 12 pT2, 11 pT3, 13 pT4 and 1 pTX. Subsequent bladder tumors were found in 13 patients (19.7%). The overall survival rate at 1, 3 and 5 years were 80%, 68% and 52%, respectively according to the Kaplan-Meier's method. In this series, the pathological staging was the most important prognostic factor.     

A case of synchronous multifocal urothelial tumors in a patient with phenacetin abuse]

A 79-year-old male with phenacetin abuse was admitted to our University Hospital for treatment of asymptomatic gross hematuria. Intravenous urograpdy and computed tomography revealed synchronous right renal pelvic carcinoma and bladder carcinoma. Right nephroureterectomy and transurethral resection of bladder tumor (TUR-Bt) were performed. Histologically, right renal pelvic tumor and bladder tumor were both transitional cell carcinomas of grade 2, pT1, and grade 1 = 2, Ta, respectively. Additionally, pathological examination revealed two distal ureteral tumors, which were transitional cell carcinomas of grade 2, pTa. He also had a history of heavy tobacco-smoking (20 cigarettes per day for 50 years). We discuss the relationship between transitional cell carcinoma and phenacetin abuse as well as the influence of tobacco-smoking, and review the literature.     

Long-term follow-up of ureteral stump tumors after nephrectomy for benign renal disease

OBJECTIVE: The occurrence of primary carcinoma of the ureteral stump after nephrectomy is rare. In this study, we evaluated the clinical characteristics of ureteral stump tumors after nephrectomy for benign renal disease. METHODS: During a 16-year period, 318 consecutive patients underwent simple nephrectomy for benign renal disease (216 cases) or for donation (102 cases). Eight of these 318 patients diagnosed as having an ureteral stump tumor were treated by ipsilateral ureterectomy with cuff excision of the bladder. Pathologic findings, tumor stages, and clinical characteristics were analyzed. RESULTS: The eight ureteral stump tumors comprised; 6 transitional cell carcinomas (TCCs) and 2 squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs). The mean interval between nephrectomy and ureteral stump tumor diagnosis was 76.5 months. Six of the 8 patients had pyonephrosis and two renal tuberculosis as original renal diseases. Four of the 6 TCCs were stage T1 and 2 stage T2. There was no concomitant bladder tumor at stump tumor diagnosis. Hematuria was the major presenting symptom in 3 of the 8 patients and 4 patients were diagnosed by follow-up imaging study. Two of the 6 ureteral stump TCC patients developed bladder TCC during follow-up. The 5-year survival rate of patients with ureteral stump tumor was 37.5%. T1G1 TCC was associated with a better survival than T2 or G2 TCC. No ureteral stump tumor occurred in cases of donor nephrectomy. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrate, that long-term closed observation is needed to detect ureteral stump tumor, particularly in patients that have undergo nephrectomy for a long-standing inflammatory renal disease such as pyonephrosis or tuberculosis. Hematuria is a major presenting symptom of ureteral stump tumor. However, a follow-up imaging study is also important for ureteral stump tumor detection. The prognosis is poor in cases developing ureteral stump SCC, bladder tumor recurrence, or a high-grade ureteral tumor.     

A clinical investigation on renal pelvic and ureteral tumors

The 60 cases of primary renal pelvic and ureteral tumors treated at Mie University hospitals between January 1977 and December 1987 were reviewed and factors predicting the prognosis were investigated. The patients consisted of 47 men and 13 women (3.6: 1.0). Their ages ranged from 38 to 82 years with a mean of 65.2 years. According to Akaza's category classification of the ureteropelvic tumor, 42 cases were classified to category A, 15 cases category B and 1 case was classified to category C. Histologically, 59 transitional cell carcinomas and 1 squamous cell carcinoma were found. As to grading, 5 was G1, 31 G2, 21 G3 and 2 GX. As to staging, 20 were pT1, 10 pT2, 21 pT3, 3 pT4 and 6 pTX. Staging was correlated well with grading. Total nephroureterectomy with bladder cuff was performed on 39 patients and the other surgical treatments were done on 15 patients. Recurrence of the bladder tumor was found in 22.4%. The 5-year survival rate (Kaplan-Meier's method) was 47.8% for all of the patients. Among the patients with transitional cell carcinoma, the 5-year survival rate was 100% for G1, 57.6% for G2 and 28.6% for G3. As to staging the 5-year survival rate was 90.0% for below pT1, 20.0% for pT2 and 41.1% for pT3. The results from the present study suggest the prognosis is decided by grade and stage in pelvic and ureteral tumors, and it is wanted to develop a system of postoperative adjuvant therapy.     

A clinical study of tumor of the renal pelvis and ureter

We report 54 patients with urothelial tumors in upper urinary tract admitted to our hospital between July, 1962 and December, 1985. The patients consisted of 38 males and 16 females; side their ages ranged from 47 to 88 years with a mean of 63.4 years. The affected side was the right side in 21 cases, and the left side in 33 cases. Macro-or microhematuria was observed in 87% of the patients. Pathologically, 53 of the patients had transitional cell carcinoma and 1 had papilloma. Six patients had a past history of bladder tumor. Simultaneous bladder tumor was identified in 10 cases. Vesical recurrence was observed in 5 cases. Total nephroureterectomy with bladder cuff resection was employed as the surgical method in 21 cases, and total nephrectomy without bladder cuff resection in 11 patients. The actual five-year survival rate was 53% for all the patients; 52% for patients with renal pelvic tumors, 75% for those with ureteral tumors and 15% for those with renal pelvic and ureteral tumors. The patients who received nephroureterectomy had a postoperative survival rate similar to that of those who received nephroureterectomy with bladder cuff resection. A simultaneous bladder tumor lowered the survival rate.     

Treatment of 46 cases of renal pelvic and ureteral tumors

During about 10 years from November, 1977 to March, 1987, 46 patients with renal pelvic and ureteral tumors were treated at the Department of Urology, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine and the affiliated hospitals. There were 34 males and 12 females with the highest age incidence in the seventies. Histologically, 44 transitional cell carcinomas and 2 squamous cell carcinomas were found. Of the 44 transitional cell carcinomas, 1 was Tis; 13 T1, 2 T2, 8 T3, 15 M+ (with metastatic lesion), and 5 TX. As to grading, 1 was G1; 24 G2, 15 G3, and 4 GX. Staging was correlated with grading. The 5-year survival rates (Kaplan-Meier's method) were 37% in patients with transitional cell carcinoma. Among patients with transitional cell carcinoma, the 5-year survival rate was 43% for G2 and 42% for G3. As to staging, the 5-year survival rates were 71% and 46% in patients with stage of T1 and T3, respectively. No patient with M+ survived longer than 4 years. The 5-year survival rates were 38% and 34% in renal pelvic tumors (24 cases) and ureteral tumors (20 cases), respectively. As to the treatments, the 5-year survival rates after curable treatment (24 cases) and non-curable treatment (20 cases) were 63% and 7%, respectively.     

Should the followup of patients with bladder cancer include routine excretory urography?

This retrospective study was done to determine if patients who present with bladder tumors should be followed with routine excretory urograms to detect subsequent upper tract tumors at an early stage. The charts of 337 patients who have been followed for up to 9 years were reviewed. Excluding 1 patient with invasive transitional cell carcinoma of the distal ureter, no documented renal pelvic or ureteral tumor was discovered in any of the followup data. This finding is in contradistinction to patients who present with upper tract tumors and who are known to have a 44 to 54 per cent incidence of bladder tumor either pre-dating or post-dating the upper tract tumor. We conclude that routine excretory urography is neither cost-effective nor necessary for the followup of patients who present with bladder tumors.     

A clinical study of 33 cases of renal pelvic and ureteral tumors

Thirty-three cases of primary renal pelvic and/or ureteral tumors, i.e., 14 renal pelvic tumors, 14 ureteral tumors and 5 renal pelvic and ureteral tumors, treated at our hospital between November, 1976 and August, 1987 are reviewed retrospectively. Tumor occurred on the right side in 18 cases, left side in 14 cases and bilateral in one case. The patients ranged in age from 33 to 77 years (average 65.7 years), the sex ratio was 4.5:1 with male predominance over female. The most frequent symptoms were gross hematuria in 22 cases (67%). Interval from onset of initial symptoms to first visit within one month for 23 cases (70%). The major findings of excretory urograms were non-visualizing kidney in 18 cases (55%) and filling defect in 12 cases (36%). Positive urinary cytology was obtained in 18 cases (55%). Operative therapy was performed in all cases, namely, total nephroureterectomy with partial cystectomy in 21 cases (64%) and nephrectomy with transurethral ureterectomy in 7 cases (21%). Histopathologically, all cases but one case of squamous cell carcinoma were transitional cell carcinoma. Subsequent bladder tumors were found in 10 cases (30%). The overall survival rate at 1, 3 and 5 years were 84%, 68% and 61%, respectively by Kaplan-Meier method. In this series, grade and stage of tumor were the most influential factors for prognosis.     

Clinical studies on renal pelvic and ureteral tumors

Clinical studies were performed on 35 patients with renal pelvic and/or ureteral cancer treated at Kitano Hospital between 1988 and 1997. They consisted of 17 renal pelvic cancers, 17 ureteral cancers and 1 renal pelvic and ureteral cancer. Twenty-nine patients were males and six were females, and their age ranged from 41 to 82 years old (average: 62.2). Histologically, 34 were transitional cell carcinoma and 1 was adenocarcinoma. Pathological stage of the tumor was pTa in 34.3%, pT1 in 14.3%, pT2 in 11.4%, pT3 in 37.1%, and pT4 in 2.9%, and grade of the tumor G1 in 11.8%, G2 in 58.8% and G3 in 29.4%. Eighteen patients (51%) had or developed bladder cancer, which preceded the diagnosis of cancer of upper urinary tract in 2 cases, coexisted in 4 cases and developed subsequently in 12 cases. The overall cause-specific survival rate was 91.3% at 1 year, 83.8% at 3 years and 79.4% at 5 years. Tumor stage, grade, lymph node metastasis and vascular invasion had impact on survival.     

A clinical study of associated bladder cancer in patients with renal pelvic and ureteral cancer

We reviewed 76 cases of renal pelvic and ureteral cancer, admitted to our hospital between January, 1975 and December, 1988, with special reference to the occurrence of bladder cancer. Bladder cancer was associated with an upper urinary tract neoplasm in 35 of the 76 cases (46.1%), 7 with a preceding bladder cancer, 17 with a coexistent one and 11 with a subsequent one. In case of renal pelvic and upper ureteral cancer the incidence of coexistent or subsequent tumors of the bladder was 28.7% (16 of 56 patients). However, in the cases of lower ureteral cancer the incidence of these tumors was 82.4% (14 of 17 patients). This incidence was significantly higher than that in renal pelvic and upper ureteral cancer. The subsequent bladder cancer was observed in 19 patients including 8 patients who had a recurrence of the bladder cancer after the treatment for a preceding and coexistent bladder cancer. The cancer in most cases occurred within 2 years after the treatment of the upper urinary tract neoplasm. Of 19 patients who had subsequent bladder cancer 11 had primary sites in the renal pelvis and upper ureter. Another 8 patient had primary sites in the lower ureter. Four of the 8 subsequent bladder cancers in patients with lower ureteral cancer occurred just on and around the affected ureteral orifice. All these 4 tumors were high grade and high stage tumors. On the other hand, another 15 patients developed subsequent bladder cancer in a place other than the affected ureteral orifice. Of these 15 patients, 13 cases showed a low grade and low stage tumor.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

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.     

A clinical study on renal pelvic and ureteral tumors

Thirty-seven cases of renal pelvic and ureteral tumors treated at our hospitals between January, 1975 and December, 1985 were reviewed. There were 15 renal pelvic tumors, 19 primary ureteral tumors and 3 ureteropelvic tumors. There were 26 males and 11 females and their average age was 62.5 years old ranging from 37 to 82. The most frequent chief complaint was macroscopic hematuria, which was seen in 89% of the patients (33/37). It was 35% of the patients (13/37) who visited our hospitals more than one month but less than three months after the appearance of symptoms. The positive rate of urine cytology was 69%. Total nephroureterectomy was performed on 22 patients and the other surgical treatments were done on 13 patients. Histological examination revealed transitional cell carcinoma in all cases. The overall actual postoperative survival rate at 1, 3 and 5 years was 83.9%, 68.0% and 68.0%, respectively, as measured by the Kaplan-Meier's method. None of the patients who survived more than 3 years after surgery died. The actual 3 and 5 year survival rates in cases of ureteropelvic tumors were slightly lower than those in the case of bladder tumors. There was no evidence in this series to show the usefulness of postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy.     

Clinical study of urothelial tumors of the upper urinary tract. 1: Primary renal pelvic tumors

Forty primary renal pelvic tumors treated at our University between 1963 and 1981, were reviewed retrospectively. The conclusions of this study are as follows. Sex and age distribution of the patients were 30 males and 10 females (3: 1), and average age was 60.5 years old. The major symptoms were hematuria and flank pain; however, palpable mass was rare. The majority of patients were admitted to our clinic within 6 months from manifestation of symptoms. The major findings of IVP were non-functioning kidney and filling defect. The positive rate of urinary cytology was 46.7%. Total nephroureterectomy with bladder cuff was performed in 20 out of 32 cases. Histologically, 29 cases were transitional cell carcinoma and 4 cases were squamous cell carcinoma with renal calculi. Simultaneous urothelial tumors were seen in 10 cases, 3 in the ureter and 7 in the bladder. A subsequent ureteral tumor was found in one out of 12 cases in which ureters were resected incompletely, and 7 subsequent bladder tumors were found out of 32 cases receiving surgical treatment in the follow-up period. The 5-year survival rate by the actuarial method was 75.9%. Among several factors, grade and stage of the tumor were the most influencing factors for prognosis. An effective method of post-operative treatment could not be established.     

A case of synchronous ipsilateral renal cell carcinoma and transitional cell carcinoma]

A case of synchronous ipsilateral renal cell carcinoma with renal pelvic and ureteral transitional cell carcinoma is reported. A 80-year-old man, who had had transurethral resection of bladder tumor three times, was admitted on August, 1989 for recurrence of bladder tumor. Excretory pyelography revealed a filling defect of left renal pelvis. Findings of retrograde pyelography and computed tomography were in accord with those of the excretory urograms. Under a diagnosis of the left renal pelvic and ureteral tumor associated with the bladder tumor, left nephroureterectomy with bladder cuff resection was performed. Pathological diagnosis was renal pelvic and ureteral transitional cell carcinoma with renal cell carcinoma, which existed incidentally in the same kidney. Double unrelated primary carcinoma in urinary tract, especially, double dissimilar primary carcinoma in the same kidney, is rare. To our knowledge, this case is the 20th double cancer in upper urinary tract reported in Japan.     

clinical studies on primary renal pelvic tumors

The 15 cases of the primary renal pelvic tumors treated at our Hospital between 1974 and 1983, were reviewed retrospectively. The patients ranged in age from 41 to 74 years old (average: 58.3 years old). There were 11 males and 4 females, the ratio being 2.8:1.0. The affected side was left in 9 cases and right in 6 cases. The most frequent symptom was macrohematuria, which was seen in 12 cases (80%). The major finding of IVP was non-functioning kidney, which was seen in 8 cases (53.3%). Positive urinary cytology was obtained in 8 cases (53.3%). As the surgical method, total nephroureterectomy with bladder cuff was performed in 8 cases, nephroureterectomy in one case and nephrectomy in 6 cases. Histologically, 14 cases were transitional cell carcinoma and one case was squamous cell carcinoma. Simultaneous urothelial tumors were seen in the bladder of 2 patients. A subsequent ureteral tumor was found in one of the 7 cases in which ureters were resected incompletely, and subsequent bladder tumors were found in 8 of the 15 cases receiving surgical treatment in the follow-up period. All of tumors were found within 2 years after operation. Over-all actual survival rates at 1, 3 and 5 years were 87%, 67%, 48%, respectively. Three and 5 year actual survival rates were 100%, 100% respectively for the low stage group and 59%, 29% respectively for the high stage group. Three and 5 year actual survival rates were 100%, 78%, respectively for the low grade group and 44%, 27% respectively for the high grade group. Among several factors, stage and grade of the tumor were the most influencing factors for prognosis.     

Completeness and correctness of registration of renal pelvic and ureteral cancer in the Swedish Cancer Registry

OBJECTIVE: To study the completeness and correctness of the Swedish Cancer Registry (SCR) for renal pelvic and ureteral carcinomas diagnosed in western Sweden. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We performed a retrospective clinical and histopathological study of 939 patients in the SCR with a diagnosis of a renal pelvic or ureteral carcinoma between 1971 and 1998 and of 54 patients with a diagnosis of tumors in multiple locations in the urinary tract. In addition, we reviewed our earlier bladder cancer studies to assess whether patients with upper urinary tract tumors had been notified to the SCR. RESULTS: There were 68 false-positive patients (7.2%) out of 939 in the SCR. The commonest diagnoses were other urological malignancies (n=46) and no malignancy at all (n=15). There were five false-positives (9.3%) out of 54 patients in the file with tumors in multiple locations. Twenty-eight patients with renal pelvic or ureteral carcinoma were identified in our earlier studies but not found in the SCR. Most discrepancies were attributable to inadequate or missing notification by the urologist and registration errors. CONCLUSIONS: The completeness and correctness of the registration of renal pelvic and ureteral carcinomas are unsatisfactory but in line with registries for some other primary sites. The notification of upper urinary tract tumors among patients with a history of bladder cancer was poor, in particular in patients not treated with surgery. Improved communication between reporting sources and the registry is needed. Clinical and histopathological reviews seem necessary in studies based on the SCR.     

Long-term follow-up of endoscopically treated upper urinary tract transitional cell carcinoma

Objectives

This report focuses on the long-term follow-up of patients with endoscopically treated upper tract transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) to determine the effectiveness of endoscopic therapy.

Methods

From May 1983 to April 1994, 44 patients with TCC of the upper urinary tract underwent conservative endourologic treatment with either electrocautery fulguration or neodymium:yttrium-aluminumgarnet laser at our institution. The mean follow-up period was 5 years (range, 3 months to 11 years).

Results

Renal pelvic tumor sizes ranged from 0.4 to 4.0 cm (mean, 1.5) and ureteral tumors from 0.2 to 1.0 cm (mean, 0.5). The majority of tumors were of pathologic grade 3 or less, and all were Stage T2 or less. Seventeen of 44 patients (38.6%) had local tumor recurrence (mean time to recurrence, 12.8 months; range 1.5 to 64). Mean recurrence time was 7.3 months for renal pelvic tumors and 17.8 months for ureteral tumors. Nineteen of 44 patients (43.2%) developed bladder tumors. The overall 5-year disease-free rate was 57%. No recurrent tumor was shown to have increased in grade, and one recurrent tumor was proved to have progressed in stage. Six patients (14%) ultimately required a nephroureterectomy for recurrence. There were no major complications as a result of endoscopic therapy. Six patients (14%) died of the effects of metastatic TCC, 5 of whom had known muscle invasive bladder TCC.

Conclusions

Endourologic techniques and the conservative treatment of upper urinary tract TCC is an evolving field and can be safely and effectively used as a first-line treatment for upper tract TCC in selected patients.     

A clinical study on tumor of the renal pelvis and the ureter

The 39 cases of renal pelvic and ureteral tumors treated in our hospital from 1974 to 1983, were reviewed retrospectively. The 39 cases included 15 renal pelvic tumors, 21 ureter tumors and 3 ureteropelvic tumors. The incidence of these tumors was 0.15% among all new outpatients. Sex distribution was 25 males to 14 females, and mean age was 65.2 years old. Hematuria was the most frequent initial symptom and chief complaint. Of the patients, 28.6% had come to our hospital within one month after their initial symptoms appeared. "Filling defect", an important finding of IVP and RP, was revealed most frequently. The positive rate of urine cytology was 33.4%. Histological examination revealed 14 transitional cell carcinoma and 1 papilloma of 15 renal pelvic tumors and 19 transitional cell carcinoma, 1 polyp and 1 metastatic adenocarcinoma of 21 ureter tumors. Operative therapy was performed on 36 patients; 26 by nephroureterectomy with partial cystectomy. Vesical recurrence rate was 18.9%. The 5-year survival rate was 37.4% on renal pelvic tumor and 40.7% on ureter tumor. The factors, high grade, high stage, and ureteropelvic double tumor, which reflect the specificity of the malignant potential, also affected prognosis. In conclusion, post-operative adjuvant therapy was thought to be valuable in the near future.     

Superficial transitional cell carcinoma of the ureteral orifice: Higher risk of developing subsequent upper urinary tract tumors

AIM: Reports specifically addressing transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) of the ureteral orifice are scarce. This paper presents our experiences of such tumors, including the characteristics of the disease and the incidence of subsequent upper urinary tract recurrence. METHODS: This study included 572 new cases of TCC of the urinary bladder diagnosed in our institute during a period of 5 years. Thirty-one (5.4%) patients had superficial tumors involving ureteral orifices. All 31 patients underwent transurethral resection of the bladder tumors, including the involved ureteral orifices. After the surgery, patients received regular follow up with cystourethroscopy, urine cytology and periodic intravenous pyelography (IVP). Ureterorenoscopy was performed in cases of suspicious IVP or urine cytology findings. RESULTS: Thirty-one patients with superficial tumors involving the ureteral orifice were followed up for 5-8 years or until death. The pathological stage was Ta in 16 cases and T1 in 15 cases. Bladder tumor recurrence was noted in three (18.8%) of the pTa patients and in seven (46.7%) of the pT1 patients. Subsequent upper urinary tract tumors developed in four (12.9%) patients between 33 and 67 months (mean: 33.5) after the first transurethral resection. All four cases of upper tract recurrence had pT1 primary bladder tumor, which recurred for 1-3 times (mean 1.8) before upper tract recurrence. None of these patients had ureteral stenting after bladder tumor resection. Three of four patients with upper tract recurrence had single lower ureteral tumor, while the remaining one patient had multiple tumors. Patients with subsequent upper urinary tract tumors underwent nephroureterectomy and bladder cuff excision. One died of the disease; the other three cases were free of the disease after the therapy. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with primary superficial bladder transitional cell carcinoma involving the ureteral orifice have a higher risk of developing subsequent upper urinary tract tumors, particularly for pT1 primary bladder tumors. Frequent and close follow up is recommended.