Transitional cell carcinoma of the upper urinary tract: a puzzle
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.18203/2349-3933.ijam20204078Keywords:
Kidney, Renal pelvis, Haematuria, Transitional cell carcinomaAbstract
Transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) of the upper urinary tract has a puzzling presentation. This is a case report of a 44 year old male with history for smoking 20 pack years presenting with cough, haemoptysis and microscopic haematuria. His sputum was positive for acid fast bacilli. He was treated as pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) but had gross haematuria a month after initiation of anti-tubercular drugs (ATD). He was investigated with computed tomography (CT) imaging and was found to have thickened renal pelvis and ureter. It was initially thought as a case of genito-urinary tuberculosis (GUTB). Expectant management for gross haematuria failed. The patient was stabilised and taken up for open nephroureterectomy under general anaesthesia (GA). Histopathological report suggested it to be high grade TCC of the left renal pelvis extending to upper ureter. He did well with completion of ATD. He was not started on adjuvant chemotherapy for fear of exacerbation of PTB. He is under regular and uneventful follow up in the outpatient department (OPD).
References
Siegel R, Naishadham D, Jemal A. Cancer statistics, 2013. CA Cancer J Clin. 2013;63:11-30.
Roupret M, Zigeuner R, Palou J, Boehle A, Kaasinen E, Sylvester R, et al. European guidelines for the diagnosis and management of upper urinary tract urothelial cell carcinomas: 2011 update. Eur Urol. 2011;59:584-94.
Hellenthal NJ, Shariat SF, Margulis V, Karakiewicz PI, Roscigno M, Bolenz C, et al. Adjuvant chemotherapy for high risk upper tract urothelial carcinoma: results from the Upper Tract Urothelial Carcinoma Collaboration. J Urol. 2009;182:900-6.
Kwak C, Lee SE, Jeong IG, Ku JH. Adjuvant systemic chemotherapy in the treatment of patients with invasive transitional cell carcinoma of the upper urinary tract. Urology. 2006;68:53-7.
