[A clinical survey on 24 cases of primary ureteral tumors]

A clinical survey was performed on 24 cases of primary ureteral tumors treated in our University Hospital between Jan. 1972 and Dec. 1981. The incidence of primary ureteral tumors was 0.17% among the outpatients in our urologic clinic. The patients ranged from 41 to 84 years old in age (average age: 65 years), and the male to female ratio was 3 to 1. The left ureter and the lower third of the ureter were involved more frequently. The most frequent initial symptom was macrohematuria seen in 19 cases (79%), followed by loin pain seen in 6 cases (25%). A cytologic study of the voided urine or ureteral urine was carried out in 18 cases and positive results were obtained in 9 cases (50%). Cystoscopic examination revealed a tumor protruding through the ureteral orifice in 16.7% (4 of 24 cases), followed by bulging orifice in 8.3% (2 of 24 cases). Excretory pyelography showed ureteral filling defects in 41.7% (10 of 24 cases). Retrograde pyelography showed ureteral filling defects in 100% (10 of 10 cases). CT showed a mass region in 44.4% (4 of 9 cases). A total of 14 patients underwent nephroureterectomy with partial or total cystectomy (66.7%). The overall 5-year-survival rate was 56.5% and could be directly associated with grade and stage of tumors.