['To evaluate serum hemoglobin, baseline serum creatinine, serum creatinine at the diagnosis of obstructive hydronephrosis, and the increase in serum creatinine greater than baseline to predict for success in retrograde ureteral stent placement in patients with pelvic malignancies.', 'In a retrospective chart review, we identified 57 patients at our institution with obstructive hydronephrosis secondary to pelvic malignancies in which retrograde ureteral stent placement was attempted from January 2002 to May 2005. The patient charts were reviewed for the baseline serum creatinine, preoperative serum creatinine and hemoglobin, and serum creatinine at presentation of obstructive hydronephrosis. This population was divided into group 1 (n = 31, 54%), in which retrograde stent placement was successful, and group 2 (n = 26, 46%), in which stent placement failed and subsequent percutaneous nephrostomy tube placement was required. The Student t test was used to determine whether a significant difference existed between the two groups for each laboratory parameter.', 'The serum hemoglobin and baseline creatinine were not significantly different between the two groups and could not be used to predict for the success or failure of stent placement (P = 0.10 and P = 0.59, respectively). However, the average serum creatinine at presentation of obstructive hydronephrosis was significantly different between group 1 (2.4 +/- 1.4 ng/dL) and group 2 (5.3 +/- 6.3; P = 0.014), as was an increase in serum creatinine greater than baseline (P = 0.002).'] Does serum creatinine predict success in retrograde ureteral stent placement in patients with pelvic malignancies?