title: Upper tract urothelial carcinoma: current treatment and outcomes.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213, USA. ristaubt@upmc.edu
authors.forename: Benjamin T
authors.initials: BT
authors.lastname: Ristau
authors.forename: Jeffrey J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Tomaszewski
authors.forename: Michael C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Ost
mesh_terms: D058733:Hand-Assisted Laparoscopy; D007680:Kidney Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery; D010535:Laparoscopy; D008197:Lymph Node Excision; D019060:Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000453:epidemiology; D009392:Nephrectomy; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014516:Ureteral Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery; D018666:Ureteroscopy; D001749:Urinary Bladder Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery; D014571:Urologic Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*