尿路上皮多器官癌九例报告

１９８４～１９９３年我院收治经手术和病理证实的尿路上皮癌共１３２例，其中９例属于尿路上皮多器官癌，占６．８２％。各部位发生多器官癌的机会：肾盂６／１６（３７．５０％），输尿管３／４（７５．００％），膀胱９／１０９（８．２６％），尿道２／３（６６．６７％）。本组９例中有７例为同时发生肿瘤，其中６例于术前同时明确肿瘤部位，诊断准确率８５．７１％。非同时发生肿瘤的２例，分别于肾盂癌术后６、２９个月再发生膀胱癌。本文强调对尿路上皮癌病人不满足于单一部位的诊断，常规行全泌尿系检查，以防多器官癌的漏诊；对肾输尿管上皮癌病人，术后膀胱灌注化疗和定期膀胱镜随访是必要的。     

同时性尿路上皮多器官肿瘤

目的探讨同时性尿路上皮多器官肿瘤的临床特点，提高诊治效果。方法对获随访的65例同时发生于多个尿路器官的尿路上皮肿瘤进行回顾性总结。男39例，女26例。年龄45～79岁，平均66岁。肾盂癌合并输尿管癌21例，输尿管癌合并膀胱癌17例，肾盂癌合并膀胱癌14例，同时合并肾盂输尿管膀胱癌13例。T1 6例，T2 35例，T3 22例，T4 2例。G1 5例，G2 32例，G3 28例。随访6个月～14年。结果术前诊断同时存在尿路上皮多器官肿瘤59例（90．8％）。术前诊断准确率B超32．3％（21／65），IVU 45．3％（29／64），逆行肾盂造影56．8％（25／44），CT 81．5％（53／65），螺旋CT尿路三维重建91．7％（11／12），CT三维重建联合膀胱镜检查100．0％（12／12）。术后再发膀胱癌46例（70．8％），2年内再发36例。G1、G2、G3术后膀胱癌再发率分别为20．0％、81．3％和67．9％，G1与G2～G3两组比较差异有统计学意义（P＜0．05）。T1、T2、T3术后膀胱癌再发率分别为66．7％、80．0％和63．6％；T4 2例均于术后短期内死亡，无膀胱癌再发。术后即时膀胱灌注化疗术后膀胱癌再发率63．2％（12／19），未灌注化疗者73．9％（34／46）。3年生存率41．7％，5年生存率30，6％。结论螺旋CT三维成像加膀胱镜检查是发现同时性尿路上皮多器官肿瘤的良好方法。同时性尿路上皮多器官肿瘤术后容易再发膀胱癌，肿瘤细胞分化不良者术后膀胱癌的再发率高。术后密切观察，建议除定期膀胱镜检查外，尚需行尿路造影检查。     

尿路上皮性肿瘤的诊断

整个尿路从肾盏、肾盂、输尿管、膀胱及前列腺尿道均为移行性上皮所覆盖，移行性上皮细胞发生的肿瘤谓之尿路上皮肿瘤。尿路上皮肿瘤可为多发性，一处发现了肿瘤，应注意全尿路的检查，如膀胱发现了肿瘤，应注意上尿路及前列腺尿道的检查，以免发生遗漏。尿路上皮肿瘤以膀...     

microRNA在尿路上皮癌中的应用研究进展

尿路上皮癌(urothelial cell carcinoma,UCC)具有多中心、多发、复发的特点,可以发生在被覆尿路上皮的肾集合管、肾盂肾盏、输尿管、膀胱及尿道.根据肿瘤部位的不同, UCC可分为上尿路上皮癌(upper tract urothelial carcinoma, UTUC)和下尿路上皮癌,前者主要包括肾盂癌和输尿管癌,后者包括膀胱尿路上皮癌(urothelial carcinoma of bladder, UCB)和尿道癌.UCC的发病机制尚未完全阐明,近年来的研究表明 microRNA(miRNA)与尿路上皮肿瘤有关.     

尿路上皮细胞分化的研究进展

尿路上皮是分布于肾盂、输尿管、膀胱及尿道近膀胱部的一类移行上皮。在尿路上皮发育或损伤修复的过程中,基底层干细胞中一系列转录因子的分级调控发挥了重要作用,最终形成分化成熟的移行上皮细胞并表达尿路上皮特异性标志蛋白。正确理解正常尿路上皮分化的过程,不仅有利于了解尿路上皮癌的发生和分期规律,寻找相应的治疗靶点并提供可能的治疗...     

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。     

肾盂恶性肿瘤（附161例报告）

１９５２～１９９１年间共收治肾盂恶性肿瘤１７３例，占同期恶性肾肿瘤的３１．７％（１７３／５４６）。经手术治疗１６１例。男１１３例，女４８例。平均发病年龄５８岁。其中移行上皮癌１５１例（９３．８％）。肾盂癌的发病数逐年呈上升趋势，近４０年每１０年间年平均发病数分别为１．９，２．５，５．１及７．８例。１０７例（６６．５％）作了肾、输尿管全长及膀胱袖口式切除术。２５例（１６．０％）术后复发膀胱癌。术后３、５和１０年的生存率分别为７５．６１％（９３／１２３），６０、１９％（６５／１０８）和４５．３５％（３９／５６）。影响肾盂癌预后的主要因素是肿瘤的临床分期和病理学特征。     

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.     

荧光原位杂交技术检测膀胱肿瘤组织中染色体的表达及意义

目的：利用荧光原位杂交技术（fluorescence in situ hybridization,FISH）,分析膀胱肿瘤中染色体畸变情况,探讨膀胱尿路上皮癌和非尿路上皮癌中染色体的表达及意义。方法：采用FISH技术检测25例膀胱尿路上皮癌、13例非尿路上皮癌（7例鳞癌,6例腺癌）标本中3、7、17号染色体及9p21的表达,以15例正常膀胱组织作为阴性对照。结果：38例膀胱肿瘤标本中3、7、17号染色体扩增明显,其中染色体在肿瘤和正常组织中平均拷贝数分别为：3号染色体为2．43VS．1．46,7号染色体为2．29vs．1．44,17号染色体为2．29VS．1．30（P〈O．01）。9号染色体P16基因为1．36VS．1．14（P=0．05）。3、7、17号染色体在膀胱尿路上皮癌和非尿路上皮癌中扩增率差异无统计学意义,而9p2l缺失率在两者中明显相关,在移行细胞癌、鳞癌、腺癌缺失率为52．0％（13／25）、100％（7／7）、83．7％（5／6）（P=0．037）。结论：采用FISH技术检测有助于探索3、7、17号染色体及9p21畸变与肿瘤类型的关系,并可作为膀胱非尿路上皮癌早期诊断的有用指标。     

尿路结石并发尿路上皮肿瘤

尿路结石并发尿路上皮肿瘤苏士平袁之敏韩玉池杨进敬尿路结石对局部组织的长期刺激，可以导致新生物。我们曾收治肾盂、膀胱结石并发尿路上皮癌９例，输尿管结石并发息肉４例，均经手术和病理检查证实。报道如下。临床资料肾盂结石并发肾盂移行上皮细胞癌４例，膀胱结石并...     

Effect of renal pelvic and ureteral distension on the striated urethral sphincter with recognition of the “reno-vesico-sphincteric reflex”

Renal pelvic and ureteral distension occurs in physiologic (diuresis) and pathologic (calculus) conditions. Its effect on the vesical and posterior urethral pressures as well as on the electromyographic (EMG) activity of the striated urethral sphincter (SUS) was investigated. The renal pelvis of 10 healthy volunteers (7␣men, 3 women; mean age 35.8 ± 8.6 years) was distended by means of a 4-F balloon-tipped catheter in␣increments of 2 ml of saline up to 10 ml and the response of the vesical and posterior urethral pressures and SUS EMG activity was recorded. The test was repeated with ureteral distension in increments of 0.25 ml up to 1 ml. The response of the aforementioned parameters was also registered after anesthetization of the renal pelvis, ureter and SUS. Two rates of renal pelvic and ureteral distension were tested: rapid (1 ml/s) and slow (1 ml/min). Renal pelvic distension with large volumes effected an increase of the renal pelvic and urethral pressures (P < 0.05, P < 0.05, respectively), a vesical pressure drop (P < 0.05) and increased EMG activity of the SUS. Ureteral distension caused a rise of ureteral and urethral pressures as well as of SUS EMG activity. With rapid distension, the aforementioned parameters responded at smaller volumes than with slow distension. Renal pelvic, ureteral or SUS anesthetization effected no urethral or SUS EMG response. It is suggested that the reaction of above parameters to distension indicates a mechanism regulating the urine flow so as to protect the renal pelvis and the ureter from being overloaded. The vesical pressure drop with increased SUS EMG activity on renal pelvis distension postulates a reflex relationship that we call the “reno-vesico-sphincteric reflex”. The role of this reflex in urine transport requires further study. Received: 2 December 1997 / Accepted: 31 March 1998     

Allelic loss of chromosome 17p in urothelial cancer: strong association with invasive phenotype.

Allelic loss of chromosome 17p with a mutated p53 gene on the remaining allele has been observed in various kinds of human cancers. To examine the significance of allelic loss of chromosome 17p in human urothelial cancer with special attention to the clinicopathological features, 49 tumors with various stages and grades from 43 cases (35 bladder cancers and 8 renal pelvic or ureteral cancers) were examined for loss of heterozygosity using 5 polymorphic probes on chromosome 17p. Thirty-seven cases were informative, and allelic loss of chromosome 17p was observed in 15 (41%) of them. In bladder cancers, the loss of 17p was observed with significantly higher frequency (p < 0.01) in cases with invasive (> or = pT2) tumors (7/10, 70%) than in cases with superficial (pTa or pT1) tumors (4/21, 19%). In renal pelvic or ureteral cancers, none of 2 superficial tumors and all of 4 invasive tumors showed the allelic loss. As to tumor grade, the allelic loss was observed in 1/9 (11%) for grade 1 cases, 6/18 (33%) for grade 2 cases, and 8/10 (80%) grade 3 cases (grade 1 versus 3, p < 0.01; grade 2 versus 3, p < 0.05). On the other hand, examination of clinical features, such as primary tumor site, tumor multiplicity or previous history of urothelial cancer did not significantly influence the frequency of the allelic loss. Our results suggest that the allelic loss of chromosome 17p is strongly associated with invasive phenotype in urothelial cancer. The results further indicate that the 17p deletion may represent a new genetic marker of malignant potentials in urothelial cancers.     

A case of CA19-9 producing transitional cell carcinoma of the ureter

We report a case of CA19-9 producing urothelial carcinoma of the right ureter. A 61-year-old male patient who had an extremely high value of serum CA19-9 (1,185 U/ml) with right hydronephrosis was referred to us. Magnetic resonance urography and retrograde ureterography revealed a long irregular filling defect in the right distal ureter. Under the diagnosis of right ureteral tumor, we performed right total nephroureterectomy and pelvic lymphadenectomy. The tumor was histologically diagnosed as grade 1 transitional cell carcinoma and pelvic lymphnodes were positive (pT1N2M0). The tumor cells showed positive immunostaining for CA19-9. The serum CA19-9 level was normalized after the operation and successive adjuvant chemotherapy (M-VAC 2 course). No recurrence was found for 15 months after operation. In this case, the serum CA19-9 level was useful as a tumor marker.     

Tumor Location Based Segmentation in Upper-Tract Urothelial Carcinoma Impacts on the Urothelial Recurrence-Free Survival: A Multi-Institutional Database Study

Introduction and ObjectivesThe predictive impact of primary tumor location for patients with upper-tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC) in the presence of concomitant urothelial bladder cancer, along with urothelial recurrence after the curative treatment is still contentious. We evaluated the association between precise tumor location and concomitant presence of urothelial bladder cancer and urothelial recurrence-free survival in patients with UTUC treated by radical nephroureterectomy with a bladder cuff.MethodsA total of 1,349 patients with localized UTUC (Ta-4N0M0) from a retrospective multi-institutional cohort were studied. We queried four UTUC databases. This retrospective clinical series was of patients with localized UTUC managed by nephroureter-ectomy with a bladder cuff, for whom data were from the Nishinihon Uro-Oncology Collaborative Group registries. Patients with a history of chemotherapy or radiotherapy were excluded from the study. Associations between the location of the tumor and subsequent outcome following nephroureterectomy were assessed using COX multivariate analysis. The location of the tumor was verified by pathological samples. Urothelial recurrence was defined as tumor relapse in any local urothelium, and coded apart from distant metastasis. The median follow-up was 34 months.ResultsA total of 887 patients had an evaluation of the tumor location in which 475 patients had pelvic tumors (53.6%), 96 had ureteral tumors in the U1 segment (10.8%), 87 in the U2 segment (9.8%), and 176 in the U3 segment (19.8%). There were 52 patients who had multifocal tumors (5.9%) as follows: 8 (0.9%) in the pelvis and ureter, 11 (1.2%) in U1 + U2, 1 (0.1%) in U1 + U3, 27 (3.0 %) in U2 + U3, and 6 (0.7%) in U1 + U2 + U3. In all, 145 (16.3%) had concomitant bladder tumors. Logistic regression analysis of gender, age, hydronephrosis, cytology, performance status, grade, lymphovascular invasion, pT, pN, and tumor focality showed that tumor location was associated with the presence of concomitant bladder cancer (p = 0.004, HR = 1.265). When the tumor location was stratified into 8 segments, including multifocal tumors, only the U3 segment remained as a predictor for the presence of concomitant bladder cancer (p = 0.002, HR = 2.872). Kaplan-Meier analysis for unifocal disease showed that lower ureter tumors (a combination of U2 and U3) had a worse prognosis for urothelial recurrence than pelvic tumors or upper ureteral tumors (U1) (p < 0.001 for lower ureteral tumors versus pelvic tumors, p = 0.322 for upper ureteral tumor versus pelvic tumor by log rank). Multivariate analysis showed that lower ureter remained as a prognostic factor for urothelial recurrence after adjusting for gender, age, hydronephrosis, urine cytology, lymphovascular invasion, pT, and pN (p < 0.001, HR = 1.469), and a similar tendency was found when the analysis was run for patients without concomitant bladder tumors (p = 0.003, HR = 1.446). Patients with lower ureteral tumors had a higher prevalence of deaths (HR = 2.227) compared to patients with upper ureter tumors.ConclusionsThis multi-institutional study showed that the primary tumor locations were independently associated with the presence of concomitant bladder tumors and subsequent urothelial recurrence.Key Words: Upper-tract urothelial carcinoma, Prognosis, Tumor location     

Ureteral obstruction after radiotherapy in patients with cancer

Diagnosis and treatment of postradiation ureteral obstruction is a problem of utmost importance, whose resolution will make it possible to prolong survival of many postcancer patients. A review of 58 cases of ureteral compression as a result of radiation and combined treatment for cervical, uterine and vesical cancer is presented. Upper urinary tract changes were shown to range from moderately dilated calycopelvic system to bilateral ureterohydronephrosis and a nonfunctional kidney. The fact that postradiation urethral compression remains asymptomatic for a long period of time makes the diagnosis still more difficult. Mean interval between radiotherapy and the detection of ureteral obstruction was 5.6 years. Ureteral affection was either isolated or combined with vesicovaginal fistulas and radiation cystitis. Short ureteral strictures were detected in 37 (68.9%) patients, and long strictures, in 16 (31.1%), mostly in cases of combined treatment. Urinary infection and pelvic inflammation are major contributing factors to postradiation ureteral obstruction. Surgical treatment was performed in 34 (64.2%) patients with postradiation ureteral stenosis; the operation was limited to nephrectomy of urine collection because of the patient's grave condition in 25 (73.5%) of those.     

Impact of endourology on diagnosis and management of upper urinary tract urothelial cancer

The technique of transurethral ureteropyeloscopy was used in 43 patients with upper urinary tract urothelial tumors. Diagnosis was confirmed in 19 of 22 renal pelvic tumors (86 per cent) and 19 of 21 ureteral tumors (90 per cent). The major complication rate in this series is low (7 per cent) and did not appear to influence unfavorably subsequent management or outcome. A total of 21 patients underwent conservative endourological management of the upper tract tumor. The local recurrence rate was 20 per cent (1 of 8) for renal pelvic tumors and 15 per cent for distal ureteral tumors (2 of 13). The technique of ureteropyeloscopy should be added to the standard diagnostic regimen for the investigation of upper tract filling defects and conservative endourological techniques can be used safely for management of selected cases of upper tract urothelial tumor.     

良性前列腺增生及其伴发疾病的同期治疗

目的:探讨良性前列腺增生(BPH)及其伴发疾病一次性手术治疗方法。方法:对114例合并有腹股沟疝、尿道狭窄、膀胱肿瘤或膀胱结石的BPH患者在行经尿道前列腺电切/汽化术(TURP/TUVP)时,同期行腹股沟疝修补术、尿道内切开术、经尿道膀胱肿瘤电切术(TURB t)或膀胱取石术。结果:114例手术全部成功。随访3~60个月,TURP效果良好。30例腹股沟疝和39例膀胱结石均无复发。25例尿道狭窄1例术中血压明显下降,4例术后需继续尿道扩张。20例膀胱肿瘤未见前列腺窝种植转移,6例非原位复发者再次行经尿道膀胱肿瘤电切术。结论:BPH合并腹股沟疝、尿道狭窄、膀胱肿瘤或膀胱结石可一期手术处理。     

Transurethral approach to the distal ureter in nephroureterectomy: transurethral extraction vs. "pluck" technique with long-term follow-up

OBJECTIVES: We retrospectively compared two techniques of transurethral management of the lower ureter in nephroureterectomy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: From August 1992 to December 2003, 34 patients underwent either transurethral detachment of the intramural ureter and cephalad extraction ("pluck"; Group 1, N = 18) or transection of the ureter with subsequent transurethral extraction (Group 2, N = 16). Choice of technique was left to the operating surgeon. All patients with upper tract urothelial carcinoma (TCC) were regularly followed by cystoscopy and abdominal ultrasound. RESULTS: Of the 34 patients, 29 had upper tract TCC. Mean follow-up in these was 44 months (range: 1-129), with 24 (83.8%) over 24 months. On follow-up, 14 bladder tumors (all superficial) occurred in 7 patients (24.1%), but in no case on the scar of the excised ureteral orifice. No extravesical recurrences in the former ureteral bed were found. Of the 29 with upper tract TCC, 19 (65.5%) are alive without disease (median 45 months, range: 6-129), 5 (17.2%) have died with no evidence of disease (median 34 months, range: 20-58), and 4 (13.8%) have died from progressive disease (median 18 months, range: 1-33); 1 patient was lost to follow-up at 34 months with no evidence of disease. Differences between techniques with regard to blood loss, operative time, complications, and oncologic outcome were not significant. CONCLUSION: Both techniques proved technically and oncologically safe. Bladder tumor recurrence rate was in the range reported for classic nephroureterectomy. No extravesical tumor recurrence in the former ureteral bed or on the scar of the resected ureteral orifice occurred.     

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.     

Urothelial cancer after renal transplantation: an update

According to the Australian and New Zealand Dialysis and Transplantation (ANZDATA) 2010 Annual Report, cancer is surpassing cardiovascular diseases as the leading cause of posttransplantation death. Skin cancer and posttransplantation lymphoproliferative disorder (PTLD) are 2 cancers in Western countries. However, urothelial cancer happens much more frequently among Chinese people. We reviewed our experience in Congress of the Asian Society of Transplantation (CAST) 2005, including 10 urothelial cancers, among 620 renal transplant recipients. In this report, we have presented our updated data. From July 1981 to May 2011, we performed 770 renal transplantations followed by graft and native kidney sonography annually even among asymptomatic cases using the protocol described in CAST 2005. During this period, 35 urothelial tumors were detected, ie, 25 new cases were identified in 6 years. These 35 cases included 7 cases with bilateral upper tract involvement and 5 of them with bladder tumors. Seven patients had bladder cancer alone. In 19 patients, 22 ureteral cancers included 1 that grew from the graft ureter, 17 (77.3%) patients showed hydronephrosis by sonography. We performed 13 bilateral nephroureterectomies; 2 were known to have bilateral upper tract cancer. Four of the other 11 were found to have insidious tumors. In contrast, 2 of the 15 initial unilateral nephroureterectomy patients underwent a subsequent contralateral nephroureterectomy due to a tumor. The pattern of urethral cancer in renal transplant recipients is thoroughly different, including female predominance, and a higher incidence of upper tract involvement. We emphasize the necessity of routine periodic sonographic survey even among asymptomatic patients for early detection of a urothelial tumor.