Can circulated lung cancer cells pass to the urine without apparent urine tract metastases?. A single centre series

Abstract

Urine cytology has been a useful tool for the diagnosis of urinary tract malignancies. However, the presence of tumor cells in the urine sediment without an obvious urothelial metastatic deposit is a rare phenomenon and in patients with lung cancer has never been reported. We present five cases with metastatic lung cancer and positive urine cytology. The possible mechanisms underlining this phenomenon and its implications are discussed. © 2007 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.