[Primary carcinoma in situ of the ureter: a case report]

A 55-year-old male visited our hospital with a complaint of gross hematuria and right lower abdominal pain. Cytological findings of voided urine suggested the presence of malignant cells. Cystoscopic examination revealed bloody urine discharge from the right ureteral orifice and no abnormality in the bladder wall. The retrograde pyelogram showed no tumor masses. However, malignant cells were detected cytologically in the right ureteral catheteral urine twice. Under the preoperative diagnosis of primary urothelial tumor of the right upper urinary tract, right total nephroureterectomy was performed. A histological study revealed transitional cell carcinoma in situ in the lower portion of the ureter. We reviewed 46 cases of primary carcinoma in situ of the upper urinary tract previously reported in Japan.