Urothelioma of the upper urinary tract: Case description and literature review

Abstract

– Transitional cell carcinoma of the upper urinary tract is relatively uncommon and the fewer the symptoms the more difficult the diagnosis. Choice of therapeutic approach is also difficult because the exams do not always enable the disease to be accurately staged and being a fundamental organ the use of conservative or radical surgery is controversial. The authors report the case of an 80-year-old man with a urothelioma in hydrocalyx of the left kidney due to lithiasis of the collar of the upper calyceal groups. The case was unusual for the concomitance of lithiasis with consequent urostasis and chronic inflammation of the sequestered calyces and the onset of neoplasia in the same. The diagnostic routine was arduous and only the CT scan removed the doubts raised by previous exams. Although precise data regarding the stage could not be obtained, radical surgery was performed. The subsequent histological exam proved the authors’ choice of procedure correct since the neoplasm was infiltrating.