Introduction: In cases of anatomic or functional single kidney with urothelial tumours of the upper urinary tract, the endoscopic laser ablation has proven efficacious.
Based on the knowledge that low-grade, low-stage upper tract transitional cell carcinomas rarely progress to invasive lesions, indications for endoscopic laser ablation have expanded to include patients with bilateral functioning kidneys and low-grade tumours. The question that remains to be answered is whether endoscopic laser ablation has the ability to completely eradicate upper urinary tract tumours.
Methods: We performed in 25 patients in a period of 11 years 288 ureteroscopies and, if needed, laser ablation of upper urinary tract tumours in imperative indication.
Results: In 32% of the patients the cancer remained even after several laser sessions. 64% of patients were tumour free after one or more laser sessions but remained clear only for the next 3 months. Only 1 patient was tumour free for a period of 68 months after 1 session of laser treatment. The procedure had low complication rates.
Conclusion: The laser technology and the introduction of small diameter semirigid and flexible ureteroscopes made ablation of upper urinary tract tumours possible and safe. Nevertheless a complete resection of the carcinomas is rarely possible.
Written by:
Kalaitzis C, Zisimopoulos A, Giannakopoulos S, Touloupidis S. Are you the author?
Department of Urology, University of Thrace, 68100 Alexandroupolis, Greece.
Reference: Adv Urol. 2013;2013:429585.
doi: 10.1155/2013/429585
PubMed Abstract
PMID: 24151503
UroToday.com Upper Tract Tumors Section
