Published in:
01-09-2016 | Invited Review
Early repeated ureteroscopy within 6–8 weeks after a primary endoscopic treatment in patients with upper tract urothelial cell carcinoma: preliminary findings
Published in: World Journal of Urology | Issue 9/2016
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Objectives
To evaluate the cancer detection rate (CDR) of an early repeated flexible ureteroscopy (2nd-look-URS) and its impact on the conservative management of patients affected with upper urinary tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC).
Materials and methods
Clinical and surgical data from 41 patients with UTUC who underwent 2nd-look-URS within 60 days of their first URS with concomitant laser tumour photoablation at a single tertiary care referral centre from 2009 to 2013 were retrospectively analyzed. Radical nephroureterectomy was offered during follow-up in case of massive tumour recurrence (defined as a tumour not completely removable only with a conservative approach). Descriptive statistics tested the impact of 2nd-look-URS outcomes on subsequent endoscopic evaluation. Kaplan–Meier curves assessed massive tumour recurrence-free survival (mRFS) rates according to the presence of a tumour at 2nd-look-URS. Cox regression analyses identified predictors of mRFS.
Results
CDR at 2nd-look-URS was 51.2 %. CDRs at third URS were 81.3 and 41.2 % in patients with a positive and a negative 2nd-look-URS, respectively (p = 0.02). At a mean (median) follow-up of 34.6 (27.6) months, mRFS rates were 88 and 48 % in patients with negative and positive 2nd-look-URS, respectively (log rank = 0.015). Tumour grade at first URS and 2nd-look-URS outcomes achieved predictor status for mRFS (HR 6.1, 95 % CI 1.42–26.27 and HR 5.39, 95 % CI 1.18–24.66, respectively, all p ≤ 0.03).
Conclusions
2nd-look-URS-related CDR in conservatively treated UTUC patients was 51.2 %. 2nd-look-URS outcomes affected the findings of both subsequent endoscopic evaluation and mRFS. Further studies are needed to confirm the benefits of this approach in terms of patient outcomes.