Transurethral endoscopic treatment of upper urinary tract tumors using a holmium:YAG laser

The feasibility of treating upper urinary tract tumors with a holmium:YAG (Ho:YAG) laser in transurethral endoscopy was examined.

Thirty-three treatments were performed on 30 patients with renal pelvic and ureteral carcinomas. After vaporization and coagulation eliminated the tumors, the surrounding mucosa was fully coagulated. Postoperative follow-up consisted of urinary cytology once a month, cystoscopy every 3 months, excretory pyelography every 6 months, and uretero-pyeloscopy every 6-12 months.

The recurrence rate after the first treatment was 86% in the imperative indication group. The tumor-free rate (median follow-up, 37 months) in the imperative indication group was 57%. In the elective indication group, those values were 20 and 95% (median follow-up, 33 months), respectively.

Transurethral endoscopic treatment of upper urinary tract tumors using Ho:YAG laser can be a useful method on limited cases identified into specific treatments groups combined with a strict follow-up.