Pathology of genitourinary malignancies: implications for clinical management.

OBJECTIVES: To describe the pathologic and molecular characteristics of genitourinary malignancies relevant to the implications for the practice of oncology nurses. DATA SOURCES: Actual cases from the author's clinical experience, original scientific papers, review articles, and pathology books. CONCLUSION: Accurate pathologic diagnosis and identification of serum and molecular markers are critical for the accurate classification, staging, and choice of appropriate treatment for patients with genitourinary malignancies. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING PRACTICE: Because decisions of treatment initiation, discontinuation, and prognosis are in large part based on pathologic diagnosis and staging, oncology nurses should be knowledgeable about the process of pathologic tissue review and understand the importance of appropriate tumor acquisition.