The authors report 5 cases of extensive loss of substance of the distal ure
ter due to radiation fibrosis, operative trauma or tumour invasion: these l
esions occurred during the course of a genital tumour in 4 cases and rectal
prolapse in one case. The lesion was bilateral and radiation-induced in 2
cases and unilateral in 3 cases, The patients presented with renal colic in
2 cases, renal failure in 1 case and infection in 2 cases (pyelonephritis,
septic shock), All patients presented with secondary hydronephrosis. The e
xtent of the lesions made vesical anastomosis impossible, especially as the
bladder was irradiated and/or absent in 3 cases, Anastomosis of the proxim
al ureteric stump onto the contralateral ureter was impossible in the prese
nce of bilateral lesions requiring diversion of the contralateral ureter or
due to the short donor ureter, or because of the discordant diameter of th
e two ureters. Transureteropyelostomy was therefore performed in these 5 ca
ses. The postoperative course was uneventful 4 cases, with a transient anas
tomotic fistula in only one case. Four of the 5 patients achieved long-term
survival with an excellent clinical and radiological result.