[Palliative urinary diversion in cases of cancer of the pelvis]

The introduction of percutaneous nephrostomy under xc-ray control or ultra-sonic control makes it possible to do the operation even in patients with a bad general condition. The decision for palliative urinary diversion in cases of cancer of the pelvis is therefore largely an ethical question. A group of patients with palliative urinary diversion (n = 48) was compared to a group with iatrogenic obstruction of the urinary tracts but without recurrence of carcinoma (n = 26). Six months later only 23 of the 48 Patients in the palliative group were alive, whereas 23 of the 26 patients without recurrence of cancer were alive. After 24 months, 35 of the 48 patients with incurable cancer had died. The indications are listed.