Alpha-fetoprotein and carbohydrate antigen 19-9 producing advanced adenocarcinoma of renal pelvis and ureter.

Tumour markers producing primary adenocarcinoma of upper urinary tract is extremely rare. We report a case of advanced adenocarcinoma of renal pelvis and ureter with highly elevated serum levels of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) and carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA19-9). This 66-year-old man was diagnosed with left renal pelvic and ureteral tumours with para-aortic lymph node swelling, with no evidence of abnormality in his digestive or reproductive system. He was successfully treated with left nephroureterectomy and lymph node dissection followed by gemcitabine/carboplatin chemotherapy and the serum levels of AFP and CA19-9 decreased to normal. Pathological examination revealed a moderately or poorly differentiated intestinal-type adenocarcinoma with para-aortic lymph node metastasis. The patient was followed up for 11 months after surgery without recurrence.