[Percutaneous treatment of tumors of the upper urinary tract]

Modern endourology procedures were used for the percutaneous conservative treatment of four tumors of the upper urinary tract in three patients, including one with a bilateral tumor, one with a single kidney and one with an abnormal contralateral kidney. No evidence of malignancy was found on the urogram, CT scan or urinary cytology; pathologic studies showed superficial low-grade lesions. Treatment was performed using a through an Amplatz sheath. Local chemotherapy with mitomycin was given postoperatively in one patient. After six months to two years follow up, no renal or vesical recurrences have been observed. With reference to this small number of cases, the usefulness of endoscopic surgery for treating tumors of the upper urinary tract is discussed. If such a procedure is feasible, patients should be carefully selected according to local conditions, tumor grade and feasibility of monitoring.