To compare overall (OS), cancer-specific (CSS), recurrence free survival (RFS) and post-operative renal function among patients affected by upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC) of the distal (lower lumbar and pelvic) ureter, electively treated with segmental resection and termino-terminal anastomosis (TT) vs bladder cuff removal and ureteral re-implantation (RR).
A multicentre retrospective study, including 84 patients diagnosed with UTUC of the distal ureter and treated with TT or RR, is presented. The primary endpoint was to compare TT and RR in terms of OS, CSS and RFS. As a secondary outcome we compared the post-operative creatinine values as an index of renal function in the two groups.
Out of 521 patients with UTUC, 65 (77.4%) and 19 (22.6%) patients underwent RR and TT, respectively. Pre- and post-operative characteristics were not statistically different between the two groups. The median follow-up period was 22.7 months. Patients treated with TT and those treated with RR did not show significantly different 5yOS, 5yCSS and 5yRFS (73.7 vs 92.3%, p = 0.052, 94.7 vs 95.4%, p = 0.970, and 63.2 vs 53.9%, p = 0.489, respectively). No difference in post-operative creatinine variation emerged in association with the surgical technique (p = 0.411).
Patients treated with TT or RR for UTUC showed comparable OS, CSS, RFS and post-operative renal function. Our data suggest that the bladder cuff removal is not imperative in the treatment of distal ureteral UTUC, and TT can be a safe solution in selected cases. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
BJU international. 2019 Feb 03 [Epub ahead of print]
Alberto Abrate, Francesco Sessa, Arcangelo Sebastianelli, Mirko Preto, Alberto Olivero, Virginia Varca, Andrea Benelli, Riccardo Campi, Maurizio Sessa, Carlo Pavone, Vincenzo Serretta, Marco Vella, Eugenio Brunocilla, Sergio Serni, Carlo Trombetta, Carlo Terrone, Andrea Gregori, Andrea Lissiani, Paolo Gontero, Riccardo Schiavina, Mauro Gacci, Alchiede Simonato
Department of Surgical, Oncological and Oral Sciences, Section of Urology, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy., Clinica Urologica, AOU Careggi, University of Florence, Florence, Italy., Division of Urology, Department of Surgical Science, A.O.U. Città della Salute e della Scienza di Torino - Presidio Molinette, University of Turin, Turin, Italy., Department of Urology, IRCCS AOU San Martino, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy., Department of Urology, ASST Rohdense, G. Salvini Hospital, Garbagnate Milanese, Milan, Italy., Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Campania "L. Vanvitelli", Naples, Italy., Department of Urology, University of Bologna, St. Orsola-Malpighi Hospital, Bologna, Italy., Department of Urology, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy.