Who is at increased risk for urinary tract malignancy?

Men over age 50, smokers, and individuals who have been treated with cyclophosphamide have a well-established increased risk for urinary tract malignancies, particularly bladder cancer.

Men over age 50 are at a higher risk due to age-related changes in the urinary tract and the cumulative effect of environmental exposures. Smoking is one of the most significant risk factors for bladder cancer, as it leads to the carcinogenic substances in tobacco being excreted in the urine, which can damage the urothelium. Cyclophosphamide, a chemotherapeutic agent, has also been linked to an elevated risk of bladder cancer, as it can cause bladder toxicity and subsequent malignancies.

The other groups mentioned do not carry the same level of risk. Women in their 30s with no existing conditions typically do not have significant risk factors for urinary malignancies. Children with congenital kidney disorders are not commonly associated with an increased risk of urinary tract malignancies, as many congenital conditions would present earlier in life rather than leading to malignancies. Young individuals with no family history similarly lack the environmental and lifestyle factors that might elevate cancer risk, and family history plays a lesser role in malignancies of the urinary tract compared to lifestyle factors and age.