Risk Factors for Urothelial Cancers

Abstract

Urothelial cancers affect renal pelvis and ureters in the upper urinary tract, however they affect bladder and urethra in the lower urinary tract. The rate of the urothelial carcinoma makes up 3% pf cancers in the world. Although urothelial cancer locations and frequencies show difference, their etiology are similar. Environmental factors are responsible for most urothelial cancer cases. Major risk factors are smoking and chemical carcinogens. Other important factors include radiotherapy, alcohol, coffee consumption, artificial sweeteners, arsenic exposure, schistomiasis, cronical cystitis, urolithiasis, analgesics, cyclophosphamide and genetic predisposition. Identification of these factors and avoiding them are important for the prevention of the disease. The evaluation and follow up of the whole urothelium is critical since the urothelial cancers are a kind of panurethelial diseases.