Transitional cell carcinoma

Cancer that develops in the lining of the renal pelvis, ureter and the bladder.

What are the risk factors?

1. A personal history of bladder cancer and smoking can affect the risk of transitional cell cancer of the renal pelvis and ureter.
2. Anything that increases your risk of getting a disease is called a risk factor.
3. Having a personal history of bladder cancer.
4. Smoking cigarettes.
5. Taking a lot of certain pain medicines, such as phenacetin.
6. Being exposed to certain dyes and chemicals used in making leather goods, textiles, plastics, and rubber.

What are the signs and symptoms?

Signs and symptoms of transitional cell cancer of the renal pelvis and ureter include blood in the urine and back pain. These and other signs and symptoms may be caused by transitional cell cancer of the renal pelvis and ureter or by other conditions.

1. Blood in the urine.
2. A pain in the back that doesn't go away.
3. Extreme tiredness.
4. Weight loss with no known reason.
5. Painful or frequent urination.

What tests are done?

Tests that examine the abdomen and kidneys are used to diagnose transitional cell cancer of the renal pelvis and ureter.

• Physical exam and health history
• Urinalysis
• Ureteroscopy
• Urine cytology
• CT scan (CAT scan)
• Ultrasound
• MRI (magnetic resonance imaging)
• Biopsy

What is the prognosis?

• Certain factors affect prognosis (chance of recovery) and treatment options.

The prognosis depends on the stage and grade of the tumor.

What are the treatment options?

The treatment options depend on the following:

The stage and grade of the tumor.

• Where the tumor is.
• Whether the patient's other kidney is healthy.
• Whether the cancer has recurred.
• Most transitional cell cancer of the renal pelvis and ureter can be cured if found early.

Stages of Transitional Cell Cancer

The following stages are used for transitional cell cancer of the renal pelvis and/or ureter:

1. Stage 0 (Noninvasive Papillary Carcinoma and Carcinoma in Situ)
2. Stage I
3. Stage II
4. Stage III
5. Stage IV

What are the different stages?

Stage 0 (Noninvasive Papillary Carcinoma and Carcinoma in Situ) In stage 0, abnormal cells are found in tissue lining the inside of the renal pelvis or ureter. These abnormal cells may become cancer and spread into nearby normal tissue. Stage 0 is divided into stages 0a and 0is, depending on the type of tumor:

Stage 0a is also called noninvasive papillary carcinoma, which may look like long, thin growths that grow out from the tissue lining the inside of the renal pelvis or ureter. Stage 0is is also called carcinoma in situ, which is a flat tumor on the tissue lining the inside of the renal pelvis or ureter. Stage I In stage I, cancer has formed and has spread from the tissue lining the inside of the renal pelvis or ureter to the connective tissue layer.

Stage II In stage II, cancer has spread to the muscle layer of the renal pelvis or ureter.

Stage III In stage III, cancer has spread:

from the muscle layer of the renal pelvis to fat around the renal pelvis or to tissue in the kidney; or from the muscle layer of the ureter to fat around the ureter. Stage IV In stage IV, cancer has spread to at least one of the following: a nearby organ. the layer of fat around the kidney. lymph nodes. other parts of the body, such as the lung, liver, or bone.

Treatment options

Surgery - One of the following surgical procedures may be used to treat transitional cell cancer of the renal pelvis and ureter:

1. Nephroureterectomy
2. Fulguration - Fulguration is a surgical procedure that destroys tissue using an electric current. A tool with a small wire loop on the end is used to remove the cancer or to burn away the tumor with electricity.
3. Segmental resection of the renal pelvis
4. Laser surgery

Regional chemotherapy and regional biologic therapy

Follow up

Follow-up tests may be needed.

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