Bilateral ureteral tumors associated with chronic renal failure: a case report

A 66-year-old female with bilateral ureteral tumors associated with chronic renal failure is presented. She received pan-hysterectomy due to uterine cancer in 1957. She was first referred to our clinic to make internal shunt under a diagnosis of chronic renal failure. In 1979, the diagnosis of neurogenic bladder and bilateral vesicoureteral reflux (rt; grade 3, lt; grade 1) was made. She was admitted to our clinic with complaints of macroscopic hematuria and a temperature of 39 degrees C on April 28, 1983. Cystoscopically, pyuria from the right ureteral orifice was found. Right retrograde pyelography revealed severe dilatation of the right ureter and renal pelvis with some filling defects. For drainage of pus retaining in the right renal pelvis, right percutaneous nephrostomy was made under the guidance of ultrasonography. After her general condition improved, right nephroureterectomy was performed under the diagnosis of right pyonephrosis on June 8, 1983. Right pyelonephritis and right ureteral tumor, grade 3, were pathologically demonstrated. After the operation, an invasive bladder tumor was detected on cystoscopy and ultrasonography, subsequently a total of 3,900 rad irradiation was given to the bladder tumor. She died of pulmonary edema 7 months later. Autopsy demonstrated a transitional carcinoma, grade 3, of the left ureter. Bilateral urothelial tumors of the upper urinary tract is rare, and to our knowledge only 29 cases have been reported in Japan.