title: [Filling defects in the upper urinary tract: update on the etiologic diagnosis and review of the specific value of urinary cytology].
abstract: We present 3 cases with upper tract filling defect and exfoliative cytology positive for malignant cells in 2 of these cases (micturition and via ureteral catheter, respectively). The initial suspicion of urinary tract tumor was discarded by subsequent work up in 2 patients who were managed conservatively and followed closely. The third patient was submitted to nephroureterectomy. The histopathological examination disclosed chronic pyelonephritis and a deposit of amorphous mucoid material but no evidence of tumor. We review the etiologies of upper tract filling defects and present a useful diagnostic algorithm for the study of these conditions and the etiopathogenic and physiopathologic evaluation of the false positives in urinary cytology.
authors.affiliation: Fundación Puigvert, Barcelona, España.
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Laucirica
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ferro
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Villavicencio
authors.forename: F J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Solé-Balcells
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000150:complications; D003951:Diagnostic Errors; D005189:False Positive Reactions; D005260:Female; D006417:Hematuria / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D007680:Kidney Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000652:urine; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009392:Nephrectomy; D011704:Pyelonephritis / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000652:urine; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D001749:Urinary Bladder Neoplasms / Q000150:complications; D014556:Urine / Q000166:cytology*
vernacular_title: Defectos de repleción en vía urinaria alta: actualización del diagnóstico etiológico y revisión del valor específico de la citología urinaria.