The traditional approach to transitional-cell carcinoma of the ureter has been nephroureterectomy with excision of a cuff of bladder. Evidence indicates that noninvasive transitional-cell tumor of the ureter is amenable to local resection. Five cases are presented in which transitional-cell carcinoma of the ureter was resected locally. None of the patients died from recurrence of their original tumor. It is suggested that the approach to ureteral tumor includes excisional biopsy with frozen section and reconstruction of ureteral continuity in the case of low-grade noninvasive transitional-cell tumor.