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

✍ Scribed by Kei Matsuoka; Shizuka lida; Katsuro Tomiyasu; Michiro Inoue; Shinshi Noda

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 2003
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 58 KB
• Volume: 32
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0196-8092
• DOI: 10.1002/lsm.10184

✦ Synopsis

Abstract

Background and Objectives

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

Study Design/Materials and Methods

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.

Results

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.

Conclusions

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. Lasers Surg. Med. 32:336–340, 2003. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.