ABSTRACT

Purpose:

To asses the efficiency and safety of minimally invasive therapies for the upper urinary tract transitional epithelial carcinoma.

Results:

Endoscopic treatments, enable conservative treatment of upper urinary tract transitional epithelial carcinoma. Endoscopic treatment can be done by percutaneously or by flexble ureterorenoscopy. As a result of improvements in technology, the diagnosis and treatment of upper urinary tract carcinoma, can be done efficiently via ureterorenoscopy. As a result of this, ureterorenoscopy has replaced percutaneous treatment in most of the cases. Most of the time, the pathological grade and stage of the tumor can be diagnosed by endoscopic treatment and computerized tomography. The size, grade and stage of the tumor are the most important factors for recurrence. The recurrence rate is also high in the upper urinary system as it is in the lower urinary system. About one third of patients who are treated endoscopically, requires nephroureterectomy in the future. So close follow-up is very important.

Conclusion:

Elective minimally invasive treatments of the upper urinary tract tumors are efficient and reliable in the properly selected cases.