Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Upper Tract Urothelial Carcinoma

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Chemotherapy and Immunotherapy in Urologic Oncology

  • 528 Accesses

Abstract

Upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC) is defined as cancer that develops in the lining of the upper portion of the urinary tract, which extends from the distal ureter proximally to the renal pelvis of the kidneys. UTUC is rare with several modifiable risk factors. Usual presentation is the presence of hematuria and typically requires a workup including a computed tomography (CT) urogram or magnetic resonance (MR) urogram and ureteroscopic evaluation. Management will be dependent upon stage, grade, tumor volume, and patient performance status. The use of neoadjuvant systemic therapy with chemotherapy or immunotherapy should be considered.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 89.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 119.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  1. Bagley DH, Tanimoto R, Healy KA. Upper tract urothelial carcinoma: ureteroscopic biopsy and specimen preparation. In: Upper urinary tract urothelial carcinoma. 1st ed. Switzerland: Springer; 2015.

    Google Scholar 

  2. Munoz JJ, Ellison LM. Upper tract urothelial neoplasms: incidence and survival during the last 2 decades. J Urol. 2000;164(5):1523–5.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Flanigan RC. Urothelial tumors of the upper urinary tract. In: Campbell-Walsh urology. 9th ed. Philadelphia: Saunders Elsevier; 2007.

    Google Scholar 

  4. Azemar MD, Comperate E, Richard F, Cussenot O, Roupret M. Bladder recurrence after surgery for upper urinary tract urothelial cell carcinoma: frequency, risk factors, and surveillance. Urol Oncol. 2011;29(2):130–6.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Chlapoutakis K, Theocharopoulos N, Yarmentitis S, et al. Performance of computed tomographic urography in diagnosis of upper urinary tract urothelial carcinoma, in patients presenting with hematuria: systematic review and meta-analysis. Eur J Radiol. 2010;73:334–8.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Cacili EM, Cohan RH, Inampudi P, et al. MDCT urography of upper tract urothelial neoplasms. Am J Roentgenol. 2005;184:1873–81.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Davis R, Jones JS, Barocas DA, et al. Diagnosis, evaluation and follow-up of asymptomatic microhematuria (AMH) in adults: AUA guideline. J Urol. 2012;188:2473–81.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Roupret M, Babjuk M, Comperat E, et al. European Association of Urology Guidelines on upper urinary tract urothelial carcinoma: 2017 update. Eur Urol. 2018;73:111–22.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Lee KS, Zeikus E, DeWolf WC, et al. MR urography versus retrograde pyelography/ureteroscopy for the exclusion of upper urinary tract malignancy. Clin Radiol. 2010;65:185–92.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Chen GL, El-Gabry E, Bagley DL. Surveillance of upper urinary tract transitional cell carcinoma: the role of ureteroscopy, retrograde pyelography, cytology and urinalysis. J Urol. 2000;164:1901–4.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Miyake M, Owari T, Hori S, et al. Emerging biomarkers for the diagnosis and monitoring of urothelial carcinoma. Res Rep Urol. 2018;10:251–61.

    CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  12. Potretzke AM, Knight BA, Vetter JM, et al. Diagnostic utility of selective upper tract urinary cytology: a systematic review and meta-analysis of the literature. Urology. 2016;96:35–43.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Sokolova IA, Halling KC, Jenkins RB, et al. The development of a multitarget, multicolor florescence in situ hybridization assay for the detection of urothelial carcinoma in urine. J Mol Diagn. 2000;2:116–23.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Johannas JR, Nelson E, Bibbo M. Voided urine fluorescence in situ hybridization testing for upper tract urothelial carcinoma surveillance. J Urol. 2010;184:879–82.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Cosentino M, Palou J, Gaya JM, et al. Upper urinary tract urothelial cell carcinoma: location as a predictive factor for concomitant bladder carcinoma. World J Urol. 2013;31:14–5.

    Google Scholar 

  16. Hendin BN, Streem SB, Levin HS, et al. Impact of diagnostic ureteroscopy on long term survival in patients with upper tract transitional cell carcinoma. J Urol. 1999;161:783–5.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Tawfiek E, Bibbo M, Bagley D. Ureteroscopic biopsy: technique and specimen preparation. Urology. 1997;50:117–9.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Traxer O, Geavlete B, de Medina SG, et al. Narrow-band imaging digital flexible ureteroscopy in detection of upper urinary tract transitional-cell carcinoma: initial experience. J Endourol. 2011;25:19–23.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Kleinmann N, Healy KA, Hubosky SG, et al. Ureteroscopic biopsy of upper tract urothelial carcinoma: comparison of basket and forceps. J Endourol. 2013;27:1450–4.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Keeley FX, Kulp DA, Bibbo M, et al. Diagnostic accuracy of ureteroscopic biopsy in upper tract transitional cell carcinoma. J Urol. 1997;157:33–7.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. National Comprehensive Cancer Network. Bladder cancer (Version 1.2020). https://www.nccn.org/professionals/physician_gls/pdf/bladder.pdf. Accessed 6 Dec 2019.

  22. Png KS, Lim EK, Chong KT, et al. Prognostic factors for upper tract transitional cell carcinoma; a retrospective review of 66 patients. Asian J Surg. 2008;31:20–4.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. Seisen T, Colin P, Roupret M. Risk-adapted strategy for the kidney-sparing management of upper tract tumors. Nat Rev Urol. 2015;12:155–66.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. Verges DP, Lallas CD, Hubosky SG, et al. Endoscopic treatment of upper tract urothelial carcinoma. Curr Urol Rep. 2017;18:31.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. Park BH, Jeon SS. Endoscopic management of upper urinary tract urothelial carcinoma. Korean J Urol. 2013;54:426–32.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. Musi G, Mistretta FA, Marenghi C, et al. Thulium laser treatment of upper urinary tract carcinoma; a multi-institutional analysis of surgical and oncological outcomes. J Endourol. 2018;32:257–63.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  27. Cutress ML, Stewart GD, Zakikhani P, et al. Ureteroscopic and percutaneous management of upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC): systematic review. BJU Int. 2011;110:614–28.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  28. Rouprêt M, Traxer O, Tligui M, et al. Upper urinary tract transitional cell carcinoma: recurrence rate after percutaneous endoscopic resection. Eur Urol. 2007;51:709–13.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  29. Srirangam SJ, Cleynenbreugel B, Poppel H. Laparoscopic nephroureterectomy: the distal ureteral dilemma. Adv Urol. 2009;2009:316807.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  30. Capitanio U, Shariat SF, Isbarn H, et al. Comparison of oncologic outcomes for open and laparoscopic nephroureterectomy: a multi-institutional analysis of 1249 cases. Eur Urol. 2009;56:1–9.3.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  31. Grossman HB, Natale RB, Tangen CM, et al. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy plus cystectomy compared with cystectomy alone for locally advanced bladder cancer. N Engl J Med. 2003;349:859–66.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA

    Anne E. Lizardi-Calvaresi

  2. Department of Urology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA

    Demetrius Bagley

  3. Department of Urology, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Philadelphia, PA, USA

    Katherine Smentkowski

Authors
  1. Anne E. Lizardi-Calvaresi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Demetrius Bagley
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Katherine Smentkowski
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Anne E. Lizardi-Calvaresi .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Urology, Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA

    Edouard J. Trabulsi

  2. Department of Urology, Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA

    Costas D. Lallas

  3. Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA

    Anne E. Lizardi-Calvaresi

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2021 Springer Nature Switzerland AG

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

Lizardi-Calvaresi, A.E., Bagley, D., Smentkowski, K. (2021). Upper Tract Urothelial Carcinoma. In: Trabulsi, E.J., Lallas, C.D., Lizardi-Calvaresi, A.E. (eds) Chemotherapy and Immunotherapy in Urologic Oncology. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-52021-2_19

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-52021-2_19

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-030-52020-5

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-030-52021-2

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation