Renal failure from metastatic breast carcinoma reversed by radiotherapy and chemotherapy.

We treated a patient who had acute renal failure secondary to obstructive uropathy from metastatic breast carcinoma. Attempts at ureteral catheterization and nephrostomy failed. Bilateral ureteral irradiation was given, followed immediately by chemotherapy, with relief of obstruction and normalization of renal function. Nineteen months later, the patient died; at that time, her serum urea nitrogen and serum creatinine levels were normal.