A review of the contemporary management of upper urinary tract urothelial carcinoma

Abstract

Upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC) is relatively rare and accounts for approximately 5% of all urothelial carcinomas. The estimated annual incidence of UTUC in Western countries is about two new cases per 100,000 inhabitants. The management of patients with upper tract urothelial carcinomas has changed significantly over the last decade with improved diagnostic techniques and treatment options. The gold-standard treatment used to be open radical nephroureterectomy with removal of the ipsilateral bladder cuff. The use of minimally invasive techniques for the diagnosis and management of upper urinary tract urothelial carcinoma is however expanding and has led to a paradigm shift in treatment strategies of upper tract urothelial carcinomas. In this article, we review the current diagnostic modalities and various endoscopic techniques being currently used in the management of this relatively rare tumour.