[Recurrent urothelial cancer after resection of ureteral carcinoma]

To prevent and treat recurrent urothelial cancer after resection of ureteral carcinoma, recurrence-associated factors and their features were analyzed.

Thirty five cases of ureteral cancer were studied retrospectively.

There were 16 cases of recurrent bladder cancer among 32 cases after kidney-ureter and partial bladder removal. Bladder cancer recurred in 10 of 14 cases (71.4%) with multiorgan urothelial cancers. Six out of 18 cases with single ureteral cancer had recurrent cancer in the bladder. In 5 of the 6 cases, the primary tumor was located at the lower ureter. None of the 4 cases in grade I had tumor recurrence while there were 16 cases of recurrent bladder cancer in 28 cases in grade II-III. There was one recurrent bladder cancer in 6 cases in stage T1 within 2 years after operation. Among 26 cases in stage T2-T3, 10 cases of recurrent bladder cancer occurred in 2 years. After 2 years, 5 recurrent cases were in stage T1-T2. There were 2 recurrent urothelial carcinomas in 3 cases whose tumors were removed by local resection. The time of recurrence was 3 months to 6.5 years (average 1.86 years). Of 16 cases with recurrent urothelial cancer, 3 were alive for more than 3 years after operation. Of 8 cases without recurrence 6 survived for more than 3 years.

Recurrent urothelial cancer after resection of ureteral cancer occurs more frequently when the neoplasm is located in the lower ureter, involving more than one organ, with high-grade cell differentiation and high invasiveness. Prognosis of recurrent urothelial cancer is poor. Regular cystoscopic check-up is helpful to find the recurrence.