[Abuse of phenacetin-containing analgesics and carcinoma of the renal pelvis (author's transl)].

39 carcinomas of the renal pelvis diagnosed between 1968 and 1979 were retrospectively examined for capillary sclerosis in the ureters, which is pathognomonic of phenacetin abuse by the patient. We detected that 40% of the patients displayed capillary sclerosis; abuse was recorded in the case histories in only one quarter of these patients with capillary sclerosis. Hence if follows that 1. the sale of phenacetin-containing analgesics without medical prescription should be prohibited by legislation; 2. physicians, as well as patients, should be informed much more intensively about this problem; 3. patients who are known to abuse phenacetin-containing analgesics must be submitted to regular cytological examination of the urine.