We systematically reviewed the literature and summarized oncologic and safety outcomes for endoscopic management (EM) compared to radical nephroureterectomy (RNU) for patients with upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC). Studies comparing oncologic and/or safety results for EM versus RNU in patients with UTUC were included in our review. Overall, 13 studies met the criteria, and five studies were included in a meta-analysis using adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) for overall survival (OS), cancer-specific survival (CSS), and bladder recurrence-free survival (BRFS). EM was associated similar OS (HR 1.27, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.75-2.16), CSS (HR 1.37, 95% CI 0.99-1.91), and BRFS (HR 0.98, 95% CI 0.61-1.55) to RNU, while 28-85% of patients treated with EM experienced upper tract recurrence across the studies. EM required more interventions with a higher cumulative risk of complications and lower likelihood of renal preservation. In summary, EM for low-grade UTUC had comparable survival outcomes to RNU at the cost of higher local recurrence rates resulting in a need for long-term rigorous surveillance and repeated interventions. PATIENT SUMMARY: For selected cases of cancer in the upper urinary tract, surgical treatment via a telescope inserted through the urethra or the skin (endoscope) results in cancer control outcomes that are comparable to those after removal of the kidney and ureter. However, because of its higher rate of local recurrence, this approach requires repeated endoscopic treatment sessions. Patients should be well informed about these issues to help in shared decision-making.
European urology focus. 2022 Nov 30 [Epub ahead of print]
Tatsushi Kawada, Ekaterina Laukhtina, Fahad Quhal, Takafumi Yanagisawa, Pawel Rajwa, Maximilian Pallauf, Markus von Deimling, Alberto Bianchi, Benjamin Pradere, Harun Fajkovic, Dmitry Enikeev, Paolo Gontero, Morgan Rouprêt, Thomas Seisen, Motoo Araki, Shahrokh F Shariat
Department of Urology, Comprehensive Cancer Center, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria; Department of Urology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama, Japan., Department of Urology, Comprehensive Cancer Center, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria; Institute for Urology and Reproductive Health, Sechenov University, Moscow, Russia., Department of Urology, Comprehensive Cancer Center, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria; Department of Urology, King Fahad Specialist Hospital, Dammam, Saudi Arabia., Department of Urology, Comprehensive Cancer Center, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria; Department of Urology, The Jikei University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan., Department of Urology, Comprehensive Cancer Center, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria; Department of Urology, Medical University of Silesia, Zabrze, Poland., Department of Urology, Comprehensive Cancer Center, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria; Department of Urology, Paracelsus Medical University Salzburg, University Hospital Salzburg, Salzburg, Austria., Department of Urology, Comprehensive Cancer Center, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria; Department of Urology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany., Department of Urology, Comprehensive Cancer Center, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria; Department of Urology, University of Verona, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Integrata, Verona, Italy., Department of Urology, Comprehensive Cancer Center, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria; Department of Urology, La Croix Du Sud Hospital, Quint Fonsegrives, France., Department of Urology, Comprehensive Cancer Center, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria; Karl Landsteiner Institute of Urology and Andrology, Vienna, Austria., Institute for Urology and Reproductive Health, Sechenov University, Moscow, Russia., Division of Urology, Molinette Hospital, University of Studies of Torino, Torino, Italy., Department of Urology, Sorbonne Université, GRC n°5, Predictive Onco-urology, AP-HP, Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital, Paris, France., Division of Urology, Department of Special Surgery, The University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan., Department of Urology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama, Japan., Department of Urology, Comprehensive Cancer Center, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria; Institute for Urology and Reproductive Health, Sechenov University, Moscow, Russia; Division of Urology, Department of Special Surgery, The University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan; Department of Urology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA; Department of Urology, Second Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Prague, Czechia; Department of Urology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA. Electronic address: .