Percutaneous nephrostomy for relief of obstruction and functional preservation of the kidney was effectivelyperformed 19 times in 14 patients for recent 1 year since July 1982 at Departement of Radiology in Seoul NationalUniversity Hospital. The etiologies of the total 14 obstructive uropathies were metastatic cervix cancer in 6-cases, metastatic rectal cancer in 2 cases, and metastatic bladder cancer, malignant mixed mesodermal tumor operimetrium, pyonephrosis, bilateral staghorn stone, UVJ obstruction of undertermined cause, congenital UPJobstruction in 1 case respectively. Percutaneous nephrostomy was done bilaterally in 1 case of congenital UPJobstruction and unilaterally in 13 cases. We used ultrasound as puncture guide in 13 cases and CT in 1 case. Majorcomplication was absent, but minor complications occured in 4 patients; gross hematuria persisting 24 hours (1case), catheter dislodgment after several seeks (2 cases ) and luminal narrowing after 3 months(1 case).Satisfactory outcomes were made in 13 patients except 1 patient who succumbed one day after the procedure due topreexisting severe sepsis. The procedure proved to be safe and effective alternative to operative nephrostomy insome patients with urinary obstruction.