Characteristics of the tumours of the urinary tract in patients with endemic nephropathy.

The authors have studies in detail the development of tumours in the urinary tract of patients with endemic nephropathy (EN). They have found tumours in about 40% of these patients. They have performed operations for tumours of the urinary tract in 88 patients with EN, with a different localization in the upper part of the urinary tract. In 10% of the cases they have found bilateral tumours. The histological examination has revealed papillary tumours of a malignant character. They have shown specific symptoms of these tumours, not found with other tumours of the urinary tract. The main symptom is renal insufficiency which causes the death of the patients. The evolution of these tumours is comparatively slow and the nature of EN has determined the operative approach of the authors, a radical operation with haemodialysis when indicated. The paper is illustrated with four typical cases.