[Urothelial tumors of the upper urinary tract. Experience with 85 cases]

85 patients with uroepithelial tumors of the upper urinary tract were treated between 1960 and 1975. A retrospective study was done on 71 patients. A follow-up examination was done on 23 patients. The average age was 59 years, lower than in most other series. Macrohaematuria was the most frequent symptom in 85,9% of the cases. Patients complained of pain in 57,7%. The average duration of symptoms was 8 months. 5 years survival after nephroureterectomy was 33% (15/45), almost the same as after nephrectomy 35% (7/20). The recurrence rate however was 45% (9/20) after nephrectomy and 11,8% (6/51) after nephroureterectomy. Nephroureterectomy should be the treatment of choice of uroepithelial tumors of the upper urinary tract. The indications for simple nephrectomy and conservative surgical procedures are discussed.