Diagnosing Ureteral Cancer
Ureteral cancer is a rare cancer the ureters, which are the tubes that carry the urine from the kidneys to the bladder. It is also called renal pelvic cancer.
To diagnose ureteral cancer, doctors may perform several examinations, screening tests, and procedures. These tests help confirm the diagnosis and determine the type, severity, or stage of the cancer. Here are the common diagnostic methods used for urethral cancer:
- Physical Exam and Health History Review: A urologist, a doctor specialized in urological diseases, will conduct a physical exam and review your health history. They will discuss risk factors such as sexually transmitted infections (STIs), bladder cancer, and chronic urinary tract infections.
- Urine and Blood Samples: Your doctor may request urine and blood samples to rule out other issues that may cause similar symptoms.
- CT urography: CT imaging with dye allows the entire urinary system to be visualized.
- Ureteropyeloscopy with cystoscopy: This is a common screening test for ureteral cancer. The doctor passes a cystoscope, a small tool with a lens and a light, into the urethra to examine from the urethra through the bladder and ureter for signs of tumors or other abnormalities. This procedure is usually done as an outpatient with local anesthesia.
- Biopsy: To confirm a diagnosis of cancer, a biopsy is necessary. During a biopsy, your doctor may remove a sample of tissue from the suspicious area for further analysis.
Specialists involved in diagnosing urethral cancer include urologists who are specially trained to treat urological diseases and conditions like urethral cancer.
To determine the type, severity, or stage of urethral cancer, additional examinations and tests may be performed:
- Imaging Tests: Additional imaging tests can help confirm a diagnosis and reveal if the cancer has spread within the body. PET scan and CT scan can determine tumor size and if the cancer has spread beyond the bladder to nearby tissues or organs.
- Lab Tests: After surgery or biopsy, lab tests on tumor tissue can provide additional information about the cancer.
These examinations and tests help identify factors or indicators of the type, severity, or stage of urethral cancer by visualizing tumors or abnormal cells and analyzing tissue samples. They provide crucial information that helps doctors make an accurate diagnosis and develop an appropriate treatment plan for each individual patient.