Transitional cell carcinoma of the upper urinary tract- staging by computed tomography

• Published in: Revista medico-chirurgicala a Societatii de Medici si Naturalisti din Iasi Vol. 106; no. 4; p. 736
• Main Authors: Negru, D, Negru, Irina, Pricop, C, Novac, C, Daniil, C
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Romanian, Moldovan
• Published: Romania 01-10-2002
• Subjects: Aged; Carcinoma, Transitional Cell - diagnostic imaging; Female; Humans; Kidney Neoplasms - diagnostic imaging; Male; Middle Aged; Neoplasm Staging; Radiography; Retrospective Studies; Sensitivity and Specificity
• ISSN: 0048-7848

To determine the accuracy of computed tomography (CT) in staging transitional cell carcinoma of the renal pelvis and calyces and to identify whether hydronephrosis proximal to the tumor used as a criterion for minimal invasion may improve the overall accuracy of the method.
24 patients with transitional cell carcinoma of the upper urinary tract underwent preoperative CT. In all cases nephroureterectomy was performed and CT and pathologic staging were compared.
Pathologic staging revealed two stage I tumors, eight stage II tumors, five stage III tumors, and 9 stage IV tumors. The initial overall CT staging accuracy was 66.66% (16 of 24 patients). Reevaluation of the CT studies by using proximal hydronephrosis as a criterion for minimal invasion improved the overall CT staging accuracy (83.33%).
When CT demonstrates direct tumor extension through the pelvic wall, it is a sensitive indicator of high-stage tumor. Hydronephrosis proximal to the tumor may cause overstaging of stage 0-II disease.