Unsuspected neoplastic disease of ureteric stump in patients undergoing cystectomy for bladder cancer

Unsuspected neoplastic disease of the ureteric stump was discovered in 4 of 47 patients (8.5%) undergoing cystectomy for bladder cancer between 1988 and 1990. Carcinoma in situ was found in one case; invasive cancer was present in 3 cases. Ureteric malignancy was found only in patients with undifferentiated bladder tumor or with a widespread involving of the upper tract of ureter and pelvis. No carcinoma in situ or tumor was discovered in the distal ureter in patients with localized transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder. This research emphasizes the low risk to constructing uretero-intestinal anastomosis with unsuspected tumor in the distal margin of ureter in patients with a transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder.