The management of ureteric obstruction secondary to malignant pelvic disease

Management of upper-tract obstruction secondary to a malignant pelvic process is a difficult problem and is best dealt with by a multi-disciplinary team. In the present audit, we address the question: is staged antegrade stenting better than retrograde ureteric stenting?

We reviewed our present management of upper-tract obstruction secondary to malignant pelvic disease in 65 patients treated over a period of 2 years. Fifty-eight patients had urological cancer and seven patients had non-urological cancers; 70% of all cases had renal impairment. Twenty-four of 65 patients had an attempt at endoscopic retrograde ureteric stenting as a primary method of decompression while percutaneous nephrostomy followed by antegrade ureteric stenting was performed in 41/65 patients.

Endoscopic retrograde stenting had a success rate of 21% whereas two-stage antegrade stenting was successful in 98% of patients. The antegrade approach had minimal morbidity.

Obstruction of the pelvic ureter secondary to any pelvic malignancy is best managed by two-stage antegrade ureteric stenting. This approach has a high success rate with minimal morbidity, and should be preferred to an endoscopic approach. This highlights the important role of an interventional uroradiologist in the management of these patients.