Cancer of the ureter or renal pelvis - General

From a urological point of view, ureter cancer can be viewed as a variant of bladder cancer. The urinary tract is lined with the same type of tissue throughout, known as urothelium. Cancer originating from the urothelium is known as urothelial carcinoma or transitional cell cancer. Depending on location, a distinction is made between transitional cell cancer of the bladder and transitional cell cancer of the ureter or renal pelvis.

How common is this condition?

Only about 5–10% of transitional cell cancers involve the upper urinary tract (the ureter or renal pelvis). About 2 people in 100,000 are diagnosed with the disease every year.

What causes cancer of the ureter or renal pelvis?

It is caused in particular by smoking, as well as by contact with chemicals such as aromatic amines, used for manufacturing paints and varnishes.

Are there any warning signs?

As with bladder cancer, the most notable symptom is blood in the urine. If blood clots move from the renal pelvis into the ureter, this can cause blockages, leading to flank pain. In most cases, however, no symptoms are experienced. The disease is occasionally diagnosed as a result of an accidental finding of a blockage in the urinary system during an ultrasound examination. Detailed investigation of the upper urinary tract should always be undertaken where a patient has repeated episodes of blood in the urine, especially where cystoscopy shows no obvious cause.