[Role of computerized tomography in the diagnosis of transitional cell carcinoma of the upper urinary tract].

PURPOSE: To evaluate the computed tomography (CT) semiological criteria used in the diagnosis of transitional cell carcinoma of the upper urinary tract.

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

26 patients with transitional cell carcinoma of the upper urinary tract underwent preoperative CT. In all cases nephroureterectomy was performed and CT and histopathologic findings were compared.

RESULTS

16 tumors were infiltrative and 10 tumors were sessile. The smallest tumour had 7 mm diameter and the largest one 13 cm. Associated focal hydronephrosis appeared in 11 cases and diffuse hydronephrosis in 7 cases. The vast majority of these tumors (69.23%) had a 21 to 50 Hounsfield Units enhancement.

CONCLUSIONS

CT is a powerful tool to diagnose transitional cell carcinoma of the upper urinary tract when data acquired in intravenous urography and echography are equivocal.