Renal artery changes in patients with urothelial carcinoma of the upper urinary system and endemic nephropathy

Endemic nephropathy (EN) is a chronic tubulo-interstitial disease of unknown etiology, and it is associated with increased frequency of urothelial carcinoma of upper urinary system. Histologically, atrophy of proximal tubules and diffuse cortical fibrosis is the most prominent finding. Hyperplastic arteriopathy of small and middle-sized arteries is also reported as a constant finding in EN cases. Renal artery changes are observed in high frequency in patients with renal cell carcinoma, as well as in patients with urothelial carcinoma of renal pelvis from non-endemic region. Aim of this study was to analyze renal artery changes in patients with urothelial carcinoma of the upper urinary system and endemic nephropathy.