[Primary epidermoid carcinoma of the renal pelvis]

Epidermoid carcinomas account for 9 to 17% of primitive pyelocaliceal tumours. Key predisposing factor are infections and lithiasis, pre-operative diagnosis being difficult due to insidious growth and absence of pathognomonic syndrome. The paper introduces one case of epidermoid pyelocaliceal carcinoma where diagnosis was supported by intravenous urography, ultrasound and CAT, and where the catheter-obtained cytology was definite in terms of diagnostic value. Ureteropyeloscopy can be a crucial examination in case of diagnostic doubt. Choice therapy is nephroureterectomy with vesical collar resection when the tumour's anatomical state or the subtotal nephrectomy allow it. Prognosis of these tumours is very poor, mean survival of patients being of about 4 months. Our patient died one month after surgery.