title: Use of the appendix as ureteral substitute in a patient with a single kidney affected by relapsing upper urinary tract carcinoma.
abstract: The treatment of upper urinary tract transitional cell carcinoma (UT-TCC) in single-kidney patients requires the radical removal of cancer, but also, when feasible, the preservation of the continuity of the urinary tract by various surgical techniques. In case of wide resections during ureteral surgery, a ureteral replacement could be advocated. In the literature, the cecal appendix has rarely been used as a ureteral substitute, moreover in benign pathological conditions, showing encouraging early results. The positive functional and oncological outcomes obtained after a lengthy follow-up in a single-kidney patient with UT-TCC treated by ureteral resection and appendix interposition confirm the viability of this surgical option.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, University of Brescia, Piazzale Spedali Civili no.1, 25127 Brescia, Italy. alxanto@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Antonelli
authors.forename: Danilo
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Zani
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Dotti
authors.forename: Luigi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Tralce
authors.forename: Claudio
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Simeone
authors.forename: Sergio Cosciani
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Cunico
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001065:Appendix / Q000637:transplantation*; D002295:Carcinoma, Transitional Cell / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D011859:Radiography; D014513:Ureter / Q000601:surgery*; D014516:Ureteral Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D013520:Urologic Surgical Procedures