Nephroureterectomy: rationale in the management of transitional cell carcinoma of the upper urinary tract

Abstract

Radical nephroureterectomy including a bladder cuff is advocated as the surgical procedure of choice in the management of tumors of the upper urinary tract. The application of a standard pathologic staging system of upper urinary tract tumors should permit an improved understanding of the natural history of upper tract disease. Further, such a system would permit an evaluation of the role of specific therapeutic intervention, correlating survival and disease staging.