Carcinoma of the renal pelvis: a ten-year review.

Twenty-two cases of renal pelvic carcinoma are reviewed, of which nine were squamous cell and 13 were transitional cell carcinomas. No difference in symptoms between the two types was seen except for an increased incidence of a palpable mass and weight loss among patients having the squamous cell variety. Thirteen of the 22 patients have died of renal pelvic carcinoma. Reasons for the low survival rate are discussed. Treatment of transitional cell carcinoma with nephroureterectomy and local lymph node dissection is recommended.