Simultaneous robot-assisted radical cystoprostatectomy and nephroureterectomy in a patient with multifocal invasive urothelial carcinoma and previous contralateral nephroureterectomy

We present a case of simultaneous robot-assisted radical cystoprostatectomy and nephroureterectomy with extended lymphadenectomy for multifocal invasive urothelial carcinoma in a patient with recurrent high-grade urothelial cancer and a previous right nephroureterectomy. The total urinary exenteration and extended lymphadenectomy was successfully performed with robot-assisted surgery in this unique case where the patient was rendered anephric at the end of the operation. We discuss the operative steps and the techniques performed to optimize the oncological results of robot-assisted surgery for invasive urothelial carcinoma, while attempting to preserve the renal function until the patient’s urinary system was totally exenterated.     

Robot-assisted laparoscopic combined nephroureterectomy and cystoprostatectomy: an initial report and review of the literature

Patients presenting with invasive, high-grade, or recurrent bladder cancer and synchronous upper urinary tract malignancy may be considered for simultaneous nephroureterectomy and radical cystectomy. We present the first known reported case of robot-assisted laparoscopic combined nephroureterectomy and cystoprostatectomy, describing a 62-year-old man with recurrent T1 bladder cancer and concomitant upper urinary tract transitional cell carcinoma. Patient underwent robot-assisted laparoscopic combined nephroureterectomy and radical cystoprostatectomy with extended pelvic lymph node dissection and extracorporeal ileal conduit urinary diversion. Robotic surgery was completed successfully without need for conversion to open procedure. There were no operative or perioperative complications. Blood loss (200 ml) and hospital stay (7 days) were less than prior reported laparoscopic experience with combined surgery. Although indications may be rare, robotic nephroureterectomy with simultaneous radical cystoprostatectomy is a feasible and safe surgical option.     

Upper tract urothelial carcinoma: current treatment and outcomes

The reference standard treatment of upper tract urothelial carcinoma is open radical nephroureterectomy. Many centers have advocated less-invasive treatment modalities. We reviewed contemporary treatments of upper tract urothelial carcinoma and their outcomes. A MEDLINE search was conducted for all relevant published data during the past 15 years. Endoscopic management is feasible for low-grade disease with strict surveillance protocols. Radical nephroureterectomy remains the reference standard for upper tract urothelial carcinoma. The intermediate-term oncologic outcomes are similar between the laparoscopic and open approaches. Controversies still exist regarding the optimal management of the distal ureter, the utility of topical therapy, and the role of lymphadenectomy.     

Laparoscopic nephroureterectomy for upper urinary tract transitional cell carcinoma

OBJECTIVE: Open radical nephroureterectomy has been the standard treatment for upper urinary tract transitional cell carcinoma (TCC). Laparoscopic nephroureterectomy (LN) offers the advantages of a minimally invasive approach. We report our experience with both hand-assisted LN (HALN) and total LN. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A retrospective review was performed of all patients who underwent HALN and LN for the treatment of localized upper urinary tract TCC between 2001 and 2005. Histology of the operative specimen confirmed urothelial carcinoma in all cases. Their demographic data, perioperative parameters and follow-up data were assessed. RESULTS: There were 31 patients with a median age of 71 years (range 39-82 years). The mean operating time was 236 min (range 120-350 min) and mean blood loss was 365 ml (range 200-2000 ml). There were no conversions to open surgery. The mean length of hospitalization was 7 days (range 3-30 days). Clear oncological margins were achieved in 27 cases. The mean duration of follow-up was 28 months (range 2-55 months). CONCLUSIONS: HALN and LN are safe and effective alternatives to open surgery for the treatment of upper urinary tract TCC. Medium-term follow-up showed favourable oncological results. A larger sample size and a longer follow-up period are required before HALN and LN can be considered standard treatments for upper urinary tract TCC.     

Nephron-sparing surgery with autotransplantation for high-grade upper urinary tract urothelial carcinoma in a patient with solitary kidney

Instead of nephroureterectomy with bladder cuff excision, nephron-sparing surgery can be considered in selected patients with non-muscle invasive upper urinary tract urothelial carcinoma. The role of kidney-sparing surgery has been established for the management of low-grade urothelial carcinoma. We report a solitary kidney patient with high-grade renal pelvis urothelial carcinoma treated with nephron-sparing surgery by ex vivo tumor excision and autotransplantation. The results of the surgery were excellent.     

Endoscopic and minimally invasive approaches to upper tract urothelial carcinoma

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: In recent years, minimally invasive techniques have been widely applied to urologic diseases affecting the upper and lower urinary tracts. Technologic advances in both laparoscopy and endoscopy provide an opportunity to improve the treatment of urothelial carcinoma outside the bladder. We review the recent studies relevant to the therapy for urothelial cell carcinoma of the upper urinary tract. RECENT FINDINGS: Despite the availability of improved ureteroscopes and newer ablative energy sources, endoscopic management of upper tract urothelial tumors must be approached cautiously. Factors that increase the risk of recurrent or progressive disease include stage, grade, and size. Although percutaneous access permits larger instruments and may improve tumor resection, the outcome is determined by tumor characteristics. Adjuvant therapies, both systemic and local, are still lacking and require further study. Laparoscopic nephroureterectomy is clearly feasible and reduces patient morbidity. The limited data available suggest that oncologic outcomes of laparoscopic nephroureterectomy are comparable to the open operation, although longer follow-up is required. The optimal method of distal ureterectomy, ensuring complete removal of susceptible urothelium, remains to be determined. Adequate care must be taken during specimen retrieval to prevent tumor seeding or spillage. SUMMARY: Urologists currently have multiple tools to aid in the management of upper urinary tract urothelial tumors with minimal morbidity. Cancer-specific outcomes should, however, remain the primary concern and the development of novel systemic therapies needs to parallel the advances in surgical techniques.     

Ureteroscopic approach to upper-tract urothelial tumors

Transitional-cell carcinoma (TCC) of the upper urinary tract has traditionally been managed by nephroureterectomy, whereas nephron-sparing surgery has been reserved for those few patients with solitary kidneys or bilateral lesions. However, with the introduction of improved diagnostic and therapeutic technology, including smaller ureteroscopes and working instruments, and the concomitant ease of surveillance, ureteroscopic treatment of upper-tract urothelial tumors has become a reasonable alternative to open operative intervention in patients requiring conservative management. Furthermore, as preoperative grading and staging have improved, ureteroscopic treatment of upper-tract urothelial tumors is assuming an increasingly important role in the management of some patients who might have otherwise been treated with a nephroureterectomy. The technique of ureteroscopic resection is described in detail.     

Initial experience with robot-assisted minimally-invasive nephroureterectomy

PURPOSE: Various techniques have been described for laparoscopic nephroureterectomy. We reviewed our initial experience of laparoscopic nephroureterectomy with robot-assisted extravesical excision of the distal ureter and bladder cuff. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Nine consecutive patients aged 43 to 83 years underwent laparoscopic nephroureterectomy for transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) between August 2005 and March 2007. The first five patients were repositioned after laparoscopic nephrectomy from flank to lithotomy position to dock the robot for excision of the distal ureter and bladder cuff by a single surgeon. In contrast, the last four patients remained in flank position throughout the entire procedure, with the robot docked in flank position following laparoscopic nephrectomy. A two-layer closure re-approximated the cystotomy and a urethral catheter was left in place for a mean of 5 days. RESULTS: Eight men and one woman with a mean age of 64.2 years and mean body mass index (BMI) of 28.4 kg/m(2) underwent flexible cystoscopy and laparoscopic nephroureterectomy for five right-sided and four left-sided tumors. Mean operative time was 303 minutes (range 210-430 minutes), estimated blood loss was 211 mL (range 50-700 mL), and mean length of hospital stay was 2.3 days. Pathologic staging revealed T(3) for five (55.6%), T(a) for two (22.2%), carcinoma in situ (CIS) for two (22.2%) patients, and high-grade disease for seven (77.8%) patients. With a mean follow-up of 16.2 months (range 4.3-24.3 months), three patients with a history of bladder cancer have experienced recurrence in the bladder, and one of the three has also developed metastatic disease. CONCLUSIONS: Laparoscopic nephroureterectomy with robot-assisted extravesical excision of the distal ureter and bladder cuff appears to be a feasible alternative for patients with TCC of the upper urinary tract.     

Nefroureterectomía radical asistida por robot para el carcinoma urotelial del tracto urinario superior: resultados peri y postoperatorios

IntroductionThe treatment of urothelial tumours of the upper urinary tract at high risk of specific mortality is based on radical nephroureterectomy. Robotic-assisted laparoscopic radical nephroureterectomy (RARNU) is still under investigation to definitively establish the safety of this procedure in the management of urothelial tumours of the upper urinary tract. The primary objective is to evaluate the intra- and postoperative safety of RARNU and, subsequently, to evaluate the medium-term oncological results.MethodsOur study is a retrospective, mono-centric study with a collection of RARNUs conducted between 1st January 2015 and 1st October 2021. The RARNUs were performed with the assistance of the Da Vinci Si® robot, then from 2017 the Da Vinci Xi® robot. Whenever possible, the entire procedure was carried out without re-docking.ResultsBetween 1st January 2015 and 1st October 2021, 29 RARNUs were carried out at our centre. Complete surgery without re-docking was possible in 80% of cases with the Da Vinci Xi® robot. One patient required conversion to open surgery due to difficult dissection. A percentage of 50 of tumours were classified as T3 or T4. The 30-day complication rate was 31%. The median length of hospitalisation was 5 days. The disease-free survival at the mean survival time (27.5 months) was of 75.2%. One patient had a recurrence in the nephrectomy compartment and no patient had a peritoneal or trocar orifice recurrence.ConclusionPerforming RARNU for the management of tumours of the upper urinary tract appears to meet the criteria of surgical safety and those of oncological safety.     

后腹腔镜下行上尿路上皮癌根治术2种输尿管末端处理方式的疗效比较

目的探讨经后腹腔途径借助完全腹腔镜下肾输尿管切除及膀胱袖状切除术的安全性、有效性及可行性。方法回顾性收集2016年10月至2018年10月于山西医科大学第一医院泌尿外科确诊为上尿路尿路上皮癌(UUT-UC)的60例患者的资料,根据治疗术式的不同分为完全后腹腔镜组、联合下腹小切口组,其中完全后腹腔镜组29例患者行完全后腹腔镜下肾输尿管切除及膀胱袖状切除术,联合下腹小切口组31例患者行后腹腔下肾输尿管切除联合下腹部小切口膀胱袖状切除术。记录两组的手术时间、术中出血量及术后恢复情况。结果完全后腹腔镜组平均手术时间(143±12)min,联合下腹小切口组平均手术时间(206±19)min,两组平均手术时间差异有统计学意义(P<0.05);两组的术中出血、排气时间、VAS评分、住院时间和肿瘤复发转移差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。结论在处理输尿管末端时,完全后腹腔镜下肾输尿管切除及膀胱袖状切除术的手术时间短,手术过程安全、疗效确切,值得在临床上进一步推广。     

Contralateral Nephroureterectomy for Renal Transplant Recipients With Unilateral Upper Urinary Tract Transitional Cell Carcinoma: A Report of 12 Cases

Background

We sought to analyze the feasibility of prophylactic contralateral nephroureterectomy for renal transplant recipients with urothelial carcinomas.

Methods

We analyzed the medical records of 12 renal transplant patients who underwent unilateral laparoscopic nephroureterectomy (first operation). Postoperative pathologic examinations confirmed that they all had urinary tract transitional cell carcinomas. At 1–3 months after the first operation, all patients underwent prophylactic contralateral nephroureterectomy (second operation).

Results

Before the second operation, 2 patients were found to have hydronephrosis on computed tomography (CT), and postoperative pathologic examinations confirmed the lesions to be urothelial carcinomas. The other 10 patients had no detectable signs of urothelial tumors before the second operation, but postoperative pathologic examinations indicated that 3 had transitional cell carcinomas. All patients were followed for 4–70 months. Eleven patients survived; 1 died of heart attack unrelated to the procedures.

Conclusions

The incidence of contralateral upper urinary tract urothelial carcinoma is high in renal transplant recipients with posttransplantation urinary tract malignancies. If there are no other health risks, prophylactic contralateral nephroureterectomy should be considered.     

后腹腔镜联合下腹部小切口上尿路上皮肿瘤根治术

目的总结后腹腔镜联合下腹部小切口上尿路上皮肿瘤根治术的经验。方法回顾分析后腹腔镜联合下腹部小切口根治上尿路上皮肿瘤17例的临床资料。男8例,女9例,年龄28～77岁,平均年龄63岁,右侧10例,左侧7例。肾盂癌10例,输尿管癌7例,其中上段1例,中段4例,下段2例。结果 17例根治性手术均获成功,手术平均时间为224min,1例形成局部皮下气肿,无一例输血,无严重并发症发生,术后平均住院天数为13d,随访1～28个月均未发生肿瘤转移及切口种植。结论后腹腔镜联合下腹部小切口上尿路上皮肿瘤根治术,具有损伤小,恢复快等优点,具有良好的应用前景。     

Gasless, hand-assisted retroperitoneoscopic nephroureterectomy for urothelial cancer of the upper urinary tract

We report our initial experiences with gasless, hand-assisted retroperitoneoscopic nephroureterectomy for the treatment of urothelial cancer of the upper urinary tract. One hand was inserted by way of the small incision made in the lower abdomen. This method provides easy maneuverability and an acceptable operative time without opening the upper urinary tract.     

Hand-assisted laparoscopic nephroureterectomy for upper urinary tract transitional cell carcinoma.

OBJECTIVE: We report our experience with hand-assisted laparoscopic nephroureterectomy (HALN) for upper urinary tract transitional cell carcinoma and compare our results with a contemporary series of open nephroureterectomy (ON) performed at our institution. METHODS: Between August 1996 and May 2003, 90 patients underwent nephroureterectomy for upper-tract transitional cell carcinoma (TCC). Thirty-eight patients underwent HALN, while 52 had an ON. End-points of comparison included operative time, estimated blood loss (EBL), intraoperative and postoperative complications, length of hospital stay, pathologic grade and stage of tumor, and tumor recurrence. RESULTS: The mean patient age was 72.3 and 70.6 years in the ON and HALN groups, respectively. Mean operative duration was 243 minutes (ON) and 244 minutes (HALN), with an EBL of 478mL in the open group versus 191 mL in the hand-assisted group (P<0.001). No intraoperative complications occurred, but postoperative complications occurred in 4% and 11% of the ON and HALN groups, respectively (P=0.21). The mean hospital duration was 7.1 days (ON) versus 4.6 days (HALN) (P<0.01). No difference existed in the pathologic grade or stage distribution of urothelial tumors between the 2 groups. The mean follow-up was 51.0 months in the ON group and 31.7 months in the HALN group. Recurrence of urothelial carcinoma occurred in 50% of patients who underwent ON and 40% treated by HALN (P=0.38) at a median interval of 9.1 and 7.7 months, respectively, after surgery. CONCLUSION: Hand-assisted laparoscopic nephroureterectomy is an effective modality for the treatment of upper urinary tract urothelial carcinoma. Patients benefited from less intraoperative blood loss and a shorter hospitalization with an equivalent intermediate-term oncologic outcome compared with that of the open approach.     

The Significant Prognosticators of Upper Tract Urothelial Carcinoma

Upper tract urothelial carcinomas are tumors derived from urothelium along the urinary tract. Currently, there are no reliable biomarkers for their diagnosis or for prediction of tumor progression outcomes. It has a high incidence in Taiwanese populations at specific locations with exposure histories, and occurs relatively more frequent in the ureter than in the pyelocaliceal cavities. Radical nephroureterectomy with bladder cuff excision is the gold standard treatment for adequate local tumor control and better long-term survival. Despite optimal surgical treatment, the patient outcomes are still not satisfactory. An improved understanding of the biomolecular predictors is urgently needed to plan neoadjuvant/adjuvant therapy and proper follow-up strategies. In this study, a literature search was carried out through the PubMed database using the key words “upper tract urothelial carcinoma,” “prognostic factors,” and “outcome” from January 1985 to August 2015. The results showed that several preoperative clinical characteristics (such as chronic kidney disease, female sex, synchronous urothelial carcinoma of the bladder, and tumor location) and molecular markers (such as glutathione S-transferase, p53 protein, cyclooxygenase-2, TG-interacting factor, nuclear factor-kB, osteopontin, and hypoxia-inducible factor-1α) could serve as candidate biomarkers for the early detection of progression to upper tract urothelial carcinomas. Additional investigations of these results are required to resolve the gene combinations precisely and personalize the management of upper tract urothelial carcinomas.     

Inverted papilloma of the renal pelvis: report of a case

Inverted papilloma of the upper urinary tract is a rare lesion. To our knowledge, we report here the 32nd case of inverted papilloma of the renal pelvis. A 50-year-old man presented with asymptomatic gross hematria. Excretory urography showed a filling defect in the left upper calyx. Computerized tomography showed a poorly enhanced low-density area within the renal pelvis. Since radiographic findings suggested a renal pelvic tumor, the patient underwent total nephroureterectomy. Unexpectedly, a 3 x 2.5 cm polypoid tumor of the renal pelvis was consistent with inverted papilloma. Since this benign lesion is extremely rare within the upper tract and its radiographic characteristics closely resemble those of urothelial carcinoma, the preoperative diagnosis of inverted papilloma of the upper tract cannot be conclusively established even by modern imaging techniques. Therefore treatment consistent with that for urothelial carcinoma should be applied in this disease entity.     

肾移植术后并发尿路上皮肿瘤的临床分析

目的 分析肾移植患者并发尿路上皮肿瘤的特点，探讨其诊治方法。方法 自1998～2003年肾移植患者1293例，术后发生尿路上皮恶性肿瘤21例（1．6％）。男4例，女17例。17例原发病为慢性问质性肾炎。发生尿路上皮肿瘤距肾移植6～62个月，平均26个月。其中膀胱癌6例，单侧肾盂或输尿管癌6例，单侧肾盂或输尿管、膀胱癌8例，双侧肾盂输尿管癌1例。10例上尿路肿瘤发生部位与移植肾同侧，4例发生于移植肾对侧。临床症状以无痛性肉服血尿和反复泌尿系感染为主。19例行手术治疗，术后所有患者免疫抑制剂用量减少1／3并辅以局部灌注化疗。结果 2例行姑息性治疗的晚期肿瘤患者分别于发现肿瘤5、8个月死亡。余19例现已随访2～5年。13例肿瘤复发，复发部位为膀胱或对侧原。肾、输尿管。所有患者在免疫抑制剂减量期间均未出现急性排斥。2例因切除移植肾恢复透析，17例肾功能正常。结论 慢性间质性。肾炎导致。肾功能衰竭的。肾移植患者和女性肾移植患者易发生移植后尿路上皮肿瘤；移植肾同侧上尿路较对侧好发肿瘤；对移植肾对侧为首发的上尿路发生肿瘤者可预防性行双侧上尿路根治性切除。     

自体肾移植治疗输尿管癌的探讨

目的：探讨输尿管癌自体肾移植治疗的理论基础和优点。方法：对9例输尿管癌患者行自体肾移植术治疗．切除输尿管癌上方3cm正常输尿管及下方输尿管全长．并做膀胱输尿管入口处的袖套状切除术；患侧肾行同侧髂窝肾移植、输尿管膀胱再吻合术。结果：9例输尿管癌包括T34例和T24例中．各有1例膀胱癌复发，其余无尿路上皮肿瘤复发．其生存率1年为100％，2年为88．8％．5年为66．7％。结论：自体肾移植术对输尿管癌患者的治疗效果基本等同于传统的根治性肾输尿管切除术(包括膀胱袖套状切除)．对于孤立肾及双肾功能不良的患者也是个好的手术方式，为以往不能行保留肾功能的高分期孤立肾及双肾功能不良的输尿管癌患者争取到手术机会。为输尿管上段肿瘤患者也提供了一个可选择的保肾手术方式。     

原发性输尿管淋巴上皮样癌一例报告并文献复习

目的 探讨原发性上尿路淋巴上皮样癌的临床表现、病理特点、治疗和预后. 方法 原发性输尿管淋巴上皮样癌患者1例.女,81岁.间断无痛性全程肉眼血尿1个月就诊.CT尿路造影提示左输尿管盆腔段腔内可见长约2.5 cm类圆形软组织密度影.行腹腔镜下左输尿管癌根治术. 结果大体标本:纵行打开输尿管,距输尿管远端3.5 cm处见2.5 cm×2.0 cm隆起肿物,切面灰白,质稍硬,实性.镜检:肿瘤细胞呈巢状分布,体积较大,胞质丰富,核大,圆形,空泡状,核仁明显,间质内大量小淋巴细胞浸润.病理诊断:输尿管淋巴上皮样癌,浸及深肌层,病理分期pT2N0M0.原位杂交技术EBER为阴性.随诊3个月未见肿瘤复发及转移. 结论原发性上尿路淋巴上皮样癌罕见,需经病理组织学检查确诊.根治手术为主要治疗手段,预后优于其他类型尿路上皮癌.     

经尿道电凝联合后腹腔镜下肾输尿管切除术对尿路上皮癌患者近期预后影响研究

目的 探讨研究经尿道电凝联合后腹腔镜下肾输尿管切除术对尿路上皮癌患者近期预后的影响.方法 随机选取本院泌尿外科于2010年1月至2013年8月收治的尿路上皮癌患者80例,按照就诊序列号的先后顺序平均分为研究组和对照组.研究组患者采用经尿道电凝联合后腹腔镜下肾输尿管切除术方式进行治疗,对照组患者采用经尿道电切联合后腹腔镜下肾输尿管切除术方式进行治疗.对比两组各项手术指标、术后并发症情况以及术后各时期肿瘤复发率.结果 研究组的手术时间和术中出血量与对照组相比较,差异无统计学意义(P＞0.05),而前者术后住院时间和治疗费用较后者显著减少(P＜0.01);研究组术后并发症发生率(2.5％)较对照组(20.0％)显著降低(P＜0.05);研究组术后3个月、术后6个月、术后1年肿瘤复发率差异均无显著统计学意义(P＞0.05),术后2年研究组肿瘤复发率(5.0％)较对照组(25.0％)显著降低(P＜0.05).结论 采用经尿道电凝联合后腹腔镜下肾输尿管切除术对尿路上皮癌患者进行治疗效果显著,术后并发症发生率低,且预后效果好.