CT findings of ureteral metastases

To evaluate CT features of metastatic ureteral tumors. CT findings in 16 patients with ureteral metastases were evaluated retrospectively; there were eight cases of bilateral ureteral involvement. Primary tumors metastatic to the ureter were advanced gastric cancer (n = 13), breast cancer (n = 1), colon cancer (n = 1), or adenocarcinoma of unknown primary (n = 1). We analysed CT findings with regard to the site of ureteral obstruction, configuration of obstructed sites of ureter, presence or absence of periureteral soft tissue density, and status in other organs. Among 24 ureters involved, ureteral wall thickening was noted in 15, periureteral soft tissue density in 13. Small nodular enhancing lesions less than 1 cm, within the retroperitoneal space around the involved ureters were noted in seven patients, and four of them were multiple lesions. Among various primary tumors, gastric cancer was the most common cause of ureteral metastasis. The common CT findings of ureteral metastases were thickening of ureteral wall, periureteral soft tissue density, and small periureteral enhancing nodular lesions. The constellation of these CT findings may be helpful in making the diagnosis of ureteral metastases