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Cancer - renal pelvis or ureter - Symptom

Alternative Names

Transitional cell cancer of the renal pelvis or ureter

Symptoms:

Back pain, located where ribs and spine meet
Bloody urine
Burning, pain, or discomfort with urination
Dark, rust-colored, or brown urine
Fatigue
Flank pain
Unintentional weight loss
Urinary frequency or urgency

Signs and tests:

The health care provider will perform a physical exam, and examine your belly area (abdomen). In rare cases, this may reveal an enlarged kidney.

Urinalysis may show blood in the urine.
A complete blood count (CBC) may show anemia.
Urine cytology (microscopic examination of cells) taken during a cystoscopy or urine clean catch sample may reveal cancer cells.

The following tests may be done:

These tests may reveal a tumor or show that the cancer has spread from the kidneys.

Kidney anatomy

Reviewed last on: 6/2/2010
David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine; Yi-Bin Chen, MD, Leukemia/Bone Marrow Transplant Program, Massachusetts General Hospital. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

References

Bajorin DF. Tumors of the kidney, bladder, ureters, and renal pelvis. In: Goldman L, Ausiello D, eds. Cecil Medicine. 23rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2007:chap 207.

National Comprehensive Cancer Network. Clinical practice guidelines in oncology. Bladder Cancer, including Upper Tract Tumors and Urothelial Carcinoma of the Prostate. v.2.2010.

Acute kidney failure

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