CASE PRESENTATIONSCASE ONE: In November 1997, a 65-year-old woman was admitted
with a complaint of stress urinary incontinence for 2 years. Dysuria,
hematuria, and any systemic illness were not noted in her medical history.
Physical examination revealed only grade-2 cystocele. Bonney and cotton
swab tests were positive. 8-10 erythrocytes and 2-3 leucocytes per high-power
field were detected by urine analysis. No bacterial growth was established
at midstream urine culture. Blood levels of urea, creatinine, uric acid,
and electrolytes were within normal limits. The ultrasonography (USG)
of the kidneys and bladder was normal. IVP showed 3 and 4 filling defects
in the left and right ureters respectively (Figures 1 and 2). A computerized
tomography of the abdomen and pelvis demonstrated an intraluminal lesion
in the proximal part of the right ureter that covered the lumen incompletely.
A multichannel cystometry confirmed the pure stress incontinence. Cytology
findings of selective urine specimens collected from both ureters under
local anesthesia were negative for atypical cells. Bilateral rigid ureteroscopies
were performed under general anesthesia. Six polypoid lesion in the
right and 4 lesions in the left ureter were diagnosed during this procedure.
Multiple biopsies were done bilaterally and laparoscopic retropubic
bladder neck suspension was performed subsequently to correct the stress
incontinence. Histopathologic examinations of the biopsy specimens were
negative for malignancy and the condition was diagnosed as bilateral
UC. The patient was followed every 6 or 12 months for a period of 45
months. Routine contrast and cytology studies showed no evidence of
malignancy and no significant interval changes in the lesions, ureters,
and intrarenal collecting systems. CASE TWO: In March 2000, a 45-year-old man who had been operated on for chronic otitis media by the otorhinolaryngology clinic was seen in consultation by the urology clinic for symptoms of bladder outlet obstruction. He had a history of intermittent macroscopic hematuria and a left nephrolithotomy operation (1987). Suprapubic pain was noted on physical examination. A urine microscopy demonstrated 9-10 erythrocytes and 4-5 leucocytes per high-power field. A urine culture diagnosed E.coli greater than 100,000 colonies per milliliter of urine. Appropriate antibiotic therapy was started. Blood levels of urea, creatinine, electrolytes, and white cells were in normal ranges. USG revealed bilateral hydronephrosis, one stone in the right kidney, and one stone in the bladder. Additionally, a small filling defect was demonstrated on the right side of the bladder wall on the IVP (Figure 3). Diuretic renogram revealed nonobstructive residual dilatation in the left kidney and obstructive dilatation in the right. A polypoid lesion, approximately 8 mm. in size, in the right ureteral orifice was observed during cystoscopic examination under general anesthesia. It was resected and pneumatic lithotripsy for the bladder stone at lithotomy position and right nephrolithotomy at flank position were subsequently performed. Histopathologic examination of the lesion defined the UC. Cystoscopy was performed every 6 months for 20 months and no recurrence or cancer development has been established to date.
DISCUSSIONUC was first described by Richmond and Robb.(1) This pathology more commonly affects older people and women and may be bilateral. The most accepted cause is urinary infection. In 1997, Menendez et al published a review of 34 patients.(2) In this series infection was reported in 53% of the cases. Infection was defined in one of the present cases. Some other causes have also been reported. For example, UC developed in an oncology patient following instillation of formalin for the treatment of cyclophosphamide-induced hemorrhagic cystitis.(3) UC is a silent pathology without any specific symptoms. Sometimes obstruction secondary to the lesions and scarring associated with the long-standing infection may lead to pain. As in the present cases, UC may be diagnosed incidentally during the evaluation of different conditions. A suspicious renal mass was found in the examination of the urinary system of a hypertensive patient and the histopathology of the surgical specimen demonstrated UC.(4) Imaging techniques such as IVP and RGP are gold standard methods in the diagnosis and follow-up of UC. Small filling defects and a bead-like appearance with regular surfaces in the ureter and renal pelvis are the typical findings demonstrated in these examinations. Magnetic resonance urography can provide high-resolution of coronal images of the entire urinary tract without using contrast agents and ionizing radiation. A major concern is the cost of the procedure. UC may also be identified and removed successfully during a ureterorenoscopy. Although UC and carcinoma may occur together in the same patient, UC does not appear to be a premalignant lesion. In the literature, there is only one case of the UC concomitant with the adenocarcinoma of the ureter.(1) However, this patient had no prior radiological evaluations and it would seem that the UC was only an incidental finding. Some authors believe that cell nests can assume mucus secreting properties and cystic structures of the UC represent metaplastic changes of the transitional epithelium due to the chronic inflammation or other causes of the mucosal irritation. They may regress completely if the underlying pathogenetic factor is removed. If not, patients with extensive metaplasia are in a high risk for the development of adenocarcinoma.(5,6) In one report, a patient with a 17 year follow-up, who had transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder and UC in the ureter of a solitary kidney, was reported.(7) There was no appreciable radiological change in characteristic ureteropyelographic appearance and no carcinoma recurrence. Kindall reported a patient with a 6.5 year follow-up where no evidence of the cancer was found.(8) Also, no cancer development was observed in the present patients in 2 and 4 year follow-ups. From these findings, we believe that UC is a benign pathology with indolent evolution and variable duration. Various therapies can be applied in the treatment of UC. In 1946, Kopp obtained good results from the instillation of 2% silver nitrate into the ureters.(9) Petersen recommended a conservative attitude using long-term antibiotics until normal radiography findings were obtained.(10) However, if infection is not present, this measure seems unwarranted and side effects related to antibiotics may arise. Patients in the present report, and a patient in another case report,(7) received no additional treatment and there was no distortion in their conditions. CONCLUSIONSIn conclusion, UC is a benign inflammatory pathology; even though it may mimic a malign tumor with radiography findings. It has a benign course with rare complication and progression. We recommend follow-up if the patient has no any urinary infection or complication(s) secondary to UC.
References
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