A clinical study on transitional cell carcinoma of the renal pelvis and ureter

Thirty-three patients in which transitional cell carcinoma was histologically diagnosed in the upper urinary tracts were statistically analyzed. Clinical analysis was done according to a new TNM system proposed by Akaza. Tumor grade and stage well correlated with survival. TS and TE group showed 89.5 and 17.1% 3-year survival, respectively. The survival rates showed significant difference between grade, 1, 2 and 3. T category and grade were also significantly correlated. Furthermore, histology and cytology were well correlated. Finally, prognosis in our series was significantly influenced by stage and grade of the tumor. Prognosis is considered to be good for 1) grade 1, 2) grade 2, superficial tumors with negative cytology, and 3) No and M0 cases. We emphasize that the new classification proposed by Akaza correlates well to survival and adapts well to the definition of regional lymph nodes.