[Unilateral essential hematuria: diagnosis, endoscopic treatment, and new diagnostic-therapeutic algorithm]

To perform a long-term evaluation of 15 patients with unilateral essential hematuria, with the aim of determining the causes of bleeding and the response to endoscopic treatment. To design a diagnostic-therapeutic algorithm for patients with unilateral essential hematuria.

We retrospectively review the clinical data of 15 patients with unilateral essential hematuria evaluated by rigid ureterorenoscopy (15 cases), flexible ureteropyelocalycoscopy (15 cases) and percutaneous nephroscopy (3 cases). In 4 patients electric fulguration of the pyelocalicial lesions was carried out.

14 of the 15 patients were successfully treated endoscopically. Only one patient presented recurrence of the hematuria. Mean follow-up time was 64 months (4-168 months). No patient suffered any relevant complication secondary to the endoscopic treatment.

The cause of bleeding in patients with unilateral essential hematuria is determined only in a few, but endoscopic treatment is successful in a high percentage of cases. We consider that upper urinary tract endoscopy, mainly flexible ureteropyelocalycoscopy, has strongly impacted the diagnosis and treatment of essential unilateral hematuria. We present a new diagnostic-therapeutic algorithm, based on the usefulness of flexible instrumentation.