[Primary carcinoma in situ of the ureter: a case report]

A case of primary carcinoma in situ of the ureter in a 77-year-old man is reported. The patient had been to another hospital with right flank pain and macroscopic hematuria. Ultrasound sonogram showed right hydronephrosis. An excretory urogram showed right hydronephrosis and stenosis of right ureter. He was referred to our hospital for further evaluation and treatment. Retrograde pyelogram demonstrated a right ureteral stricture at the level of S1-2, but no space occupying lesion was detected in the ureter. Cytology of voided urine was negative for malignant cells and no other abnormal findings were present. Probe laparotomy was performed under the preoperative diagnosis of ureteral stricture. During the operation, frozen section examination of the stenotic ureter showed carcinoma in situ and so we performed right total nephroureterectomy with a bladder cuff. Pathologic diagnosis was primary carcinoma in situ of the right ureter. The patient has been doing well for six months postoperatively with no evidence of recurrent or metastatic disease.