Pyelonephritis in Older Patients? Look for Urogenital Cancer

Pyelonephritis occurs more frequently among older individuals and is commonly associated with obstruction in the urinary tract. Some epidemiological studies suggest an association between urinary tract infections and occult malignancy. This association may be due to disruption of the epithelial barrier by malignant tissue facilitating infection or to carcinogenesis fueled by chronic or repeated inflammation.

To determine whether pyelonephritis is a clinical marker for urogenital cancer in older patients, researchers conducted a population-based epidemiological cohort study using health data from Danish medical databases on 15,070 patients older than 50 years (mean age, 71; 59% women) with no previous cancer who received a diagnosis of incide…