Mark Hurwitz, MD

This management guide covers the treatment of urothelial cancers (carcinomas of the bladder, ureters, and renal pelvis) and kidney cancers (renal tumors).

In the year 2009, an estimated 70,980 new cases of bladder cancer will be diagnosed in the United States, and approximately 14,330 patients will die of this disease.Urothelial cancers encompass carcinomas of the bladder, ureters, and renal pelvis; these cancers occur at a ratio of 50:3:1, respectively. Cancer of the urothelium is a multifocal process. Patients with cancer of the upper urinary tract have a 30% to 50% chance of developing cancer of the bladder at some time in their lives. On the other hand, patients with bladder cancer have a 2% to 3% chance of developing cancer of the upper urinary tract. The incidence of renal pelvis tumors is decreasing.