title: Transurethral endoscopic treatment of upper urinary tract tumors using a holmium:YAG laser.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The feasibility of treating upper urinary tract tumors with a holmium:YAG (Ho:YAG) laser in transurethral endoscopy was examined.
  
  
  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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Kurume University School of Medicine, Kurume City 8300011, Japan. keimat@med.kurume-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: Kei
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Matsuoka
authors.forename: Shizuka
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lida
authors.forename: Katsuro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tomiyasu
authors.forename: Michiro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Inoue
authors.forename: Shinshi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Noda
mesh_terms: D002295:Carcinoma, Transitional Cell / Q000601:surgery*; D004724:Endoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007680:Kidney Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D053685:Laser Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014516:Ureteral Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*