Urinary diversion in gynecologic malignancies

A variety of methods for urinary diversion are employed in patients with gynecologic malignancies depending on whether there is an obstruction or fistula formation due to either tumor growth or radiotherapeutic injury. Percutaneous nephrostomy (PCN) has a low complication rate and is a good method for palliative urinary diversion or may precede some form of permanent diversion to restore the kidney function first. Indication for palliative diversion in tumor obstruction depends on many individual factors. A relative contraindication is tumor progression during therapy. 6-month survival was about 70% in patients with previously untreated tumors or recurrences. This rate is far better than reported in earlier studies, so that a palliative diversion has to be considered for these patients. Also a high rate of recanalization after therapy could be observed in the untreated group, allowing the PCN to be removed. However, this has not been shown to be a prognostic factor. In the individual patient some other aspects, such as quality of life and social status, have to be taken into account before a final decision can be made. Ureteral obstruction after radiotherapy is a rare finding and often mistaken for a more likely recurrence. Different methods to restore the urinary tract, such as reimplantation of the ureter, should be used as a first choice. When the stenosis is due to radiocystitis, enterocytoplasty will often be indicated. Diversion has then to be omitted. The poor quality of life because of permanent incontinence due to fistula formation makes diversion mandatory even if life expectancy is very short. Surgical closure of a large radiogenic fistula is rarely successful. In this situation, ileal conduit has proven its efficacy for long-term urinary diversion.