Ultrasound-guided percutaneous nephrostomy in the treatment of advanced gynecologic malignancy

Adjuvant to cancer therapy, 35 percutaneous ultrasound-guided nephrostomies have been applied in 21 patients with ureteral occlusions or lesions secondary to advanced gynecologic malignancies. Application of the catheters was uncomplicated. Dislodgement of the catheters was the major problem with this technique, occurring in 9 cases. There were no serious complications. In 14 patients, normal ureteral function was restored after the cancer therapy, 2 had to be nephrectomized, and in 5 patients the nephrostomies had to remain permanently. It is concluded that nephrostomy is a useful tool in the management of advanced gynecologic malignancies in patients who have a prospect of cure or a period of meaningful tumor regression.