[Renal tumor and urolithiasis: is there a relationship?]

There is conflicting evidence on the impact of urolithiasis on the risk of developing cancer of kidney and upper urinary tract. Most researchers are of the opinion that there is a definite association between the diseases and clinicians should take the necessary measures to detect possible malignancy of the kidney and upper urinary tract in patients with urolithiasis at the earliest stages. However, the pathophysiological mechanisms that may underlie the development of renal cell carcinoma and urothelial cancer in patients with urolithiasis remain unexplored.