Endoscopic Management of Upper Urinary Tract Transitional Cell Carcinoma: Cases Report and Literature Review

The standard treatment of an upper urinary tract transitional cell carcinoma is neph-roureterectomy with removal of the bladder cuff. Recently, conservative approaches have been suggested for selected patients. With technological advances in instrumentation and techniques the endoscopic approach to upper tract transitional cell carcinoma becomes an alternative to the open surgery. We report our initial experience in the treatment of two patients with upper urinary tract transitional cell carcinoma with intracavitary bacillus Calmette-Guerin (GCG). Both of them had smooth outcome and were free of tumor recurrence. We conclude that endoscopic techniques may provide satisfactory treatment for selected for selected individuals with upper urinary tract transitional cell carcinoma when preservation of functioning kidney is necessary. (J Urol R.O.C., 8:148-151,1997)