[Inverted growth of transitional cell carcinoma in the ureter: a case report]

Inverted growth of transitional cell carcinoma in the ureter is reported. A 71-year-old female visited us for right flank pain and gross hematuria. Hematuria from the right ureteral orifice was found by cystoscopy. Intravenous pyelography revealed right hydronephrosis and a filling defect in the right ureter, but the filling defect moved to the lower ureter. Computerized tomographic (CT) scan demonstrated a tiny lesion in the right ureter. Under a tentative diagnosis of right ureteral tumor, flexible fiberoptic ureteroscopy was performed. As a pedunculated tumor with a smooth surface was found, biopsy was performed. Since pathological examination showed malignancy, right nephroureterectomy was performed. Histological diagnosis was transitional cell carcinoma, grade 1. Cancer was covered by normal transitional epithelium, and developed inverted growth. This is a rare case of inverted growth of the transitional cell carcinoma in the ureter.