title: Laparoscopic treatment of retroperitoneal fibrosis: report of two cases and review of the literature.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We present the results of treatment by laparoscopy of two patients with retroperitoneal fibrosis and review the literature since 1992, when the first case of this disease that was treated using laparoscopy was published. We also discuss the contemporary alternatives of clinical treatment with corticosteroids and tamoxifen.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two female patients, one with idiopathic retroperitoneal fibrosis, and other with retroperitoneal fibrosis associated with Riedel's thyroiditis, were treated using laparoscopic surgery. Both cases had bilateral pelvic ureteral obstruction and were treated using the same technique: transperitoneal laparoscopy, medial mobilization of both colons, liberation of both ureters from the fibrosis, and intraperitonealisation of the ureters. Double-J catheters were inserted before the operations and removed 3 weeks after the procedures. The first patient underwent intraperitonealisation of both ureters in a single procedure. The other had 2 different surgical procedures because of technical difficulties during the first operation. Both patients were followed for more than 1 year and recovered completely from the renal insufficiency. One of them still has occasional vague lumbar pain. There were no abnormalities in the intravenous pyelography in either case.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Surgical correction of retroperitoneal fibrosis, when indicated, should be attempted using laparoscopy. If possible, bilateral ureterolysis and intraperitonealisation of both ureters should be performed in the same operation.
authors.affiliation: Division of Urology, Hospital das Clínicas, Faculty of Medicine, University of São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: L N
authors.initials: LN
authors.lastname: Castilho
authors.forename: A I
authors.initials: AI
authors.lastname: Mitre
authors.forename: F H
authors.initials: FH
authors.lastname: Iizuka
authors.forename: O E
authors.initials: OE
authors.lastname: Fugita
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Colombo
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Arap
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012185:Retroperitoneal Fibrosis / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014517:Ureteral Obstruction / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*