ABSTRACT
Introduction The American Cancer Society estimates that in the year 2000, roughly 2,300
Americans will be newly diagnosed with transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) of the ureter and that about 300 patients will die from this disease. Ureteral transitional cell carcinoma occurs in twice as many men as women, peaking somewhere in the seventh decade. Exact statistics regarding the incidence of renal pelvic transitional cell carcinoma are difficult to obtain because renal cell carcinoma and renal pelvic transitional cell carcinoma are reported together by the American Cancer Society. Renal pelvic transitional cell carcinoma is relatively uncommon in the United States and more than likely is no more prevalent than twice the rate of ureteral transitional cell carcinoma. Most of the medical literature discusses ureteral and renal pelvic transitional cell carcinoma together because of their obvious relation, and therefore both are included together in this handbook. Collectively one refers to these entities as upper tract transitional cell carcinoma to distinguish them from bladder cancer and tumors of the urinary tract distal to the bladder, which are frequently referred to as involving the lower urinary tract. Primary renal tumors will be discussed in a separate chapter.
