Value of colonoscopy after ureterosigmoidostomy.

Ureterosigmoidostomy (US) is an acceptable procedure for urinary diversion. Despite problems with ascending pyelonephritis, anal incontinence, and recently a reported 100- to 500-fold increase in the incidence of colonic carcinoma, the popularity of US is predicted to increase. The records of 110 patients who have undergone US at our institution have been reviewed. Invasive colon cancer developed at the site of ureter implantation in three of these patients. All patients had rectal bleeding and obstipation as initial symptoms. We have located 17 of our US patients and all consented to colonoscopy and urologic follow-up. At colonoscopy 41% of these patients had one to three polyps (0.5 to 6 cm) involving or near the site of the US. No polyps were seen proximal to the US sites. Polyps were histologically defined as tubovillous adenomas or mixed tubovillous-transitional cell adenomas. A single patient with three 4 to 6 cm polyps had superficial adenocarcinoma found in two of the polyps. Recurrent polyps or dysplasia has not been found on follow-up examination. Despite the disadvantages of US, the likely increased popularity of this procedure mandates that all patients be followed regularly for polyps and cancer. Our data support the following recommendations: (1) surveillance colonoscopy should be started soon after US, and (2) conversion to an alternative diversion should be made if recurrent polyps, cancer, or dysplasia is found. Yearly colonoscopy and screening for occult blood must be part of the comprehensive follow-up on all patients after US.