Correlation of upper-tract cytology, retrograde pyelography, ureteroscopic appearance, and ureteroscopic biopsy with histologic examination of upper-tract transitional cell carcinoma.

Purpose: To determine the accuracy of radiographic studies, ureteroscopy, biopsy, and cytology in predicting the histopathology of upper-tract transitional cell carcinoma (TCC).

Materials And Methods: From 1998 to 2006, 46 upper-tract lesions were diagnosed ureteroscopically and underwent nephroureterectomy, and 30 of them were subjected to direct ureteroscopic inspection and biopsy. Fresh samples were delivered to the cytopathology laboratory and histology samples were prepared whenever visible tissue was present.