Synchronous Bilateral Carcinoma of the Ureters. Report of a Case and a Short Discussion of the Literature

Background/aim: The strategy for treatment of bilateral simultaneous renal pelvic and/or ureteral tumors has not been established and is dependent on individual decision.

Case report: We herein report the case of an elderly man who was examined for fatigue at the emergency department and subsequently diagnosed with bilateral ureteral cancer. The most common histologic type of ureteral cancer is urothelial (transitional epithelium) cancer and though it is rare, it can be synchronously present in the contralateral ureter. Computed tomography-urography (CTU) has very good results regarding diagnosis and surgical treatment and -though not preferred in our case-, it has shown promising results.

Conclusion: We believe that conservative treatment is a viable therapeutic option for simultaneous bilateral renal pelvic and/or ureteral tumors in selected patients. Yet, this treatment has seldom been performed, although standard therapy with bilateral nephroureterectomy inevitably requires the support of hemodialysis or renal transplantation.

Keywords: Bilateral cancer; comorbidities; synchronous; ureter.