Ureteral Tumors Research Articles

A rare case of retroperitoneal recurrence as squamous cell carcinoma 10 years after nephroureterectomy

IntroductionLocal recurrence for upper tract urothelial carcinoma typically occurs within 2 years post‐surgery. We report a rare case of retroperitoneal recurrence as squamous cell carcinoma 10 years after nephroureterectomy.Case presentationA 67‐year‐old female was referred to our urology department for a left ureteral tumor. The surgical specimen of the laparoscopic left nephroureterectomy revealed urothelial carcinoma at the pT3 stage. Ten years post‐nephroureterectomy, magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography revealed a mass lesion in the left retroperitoneum, a computed tomography‐guided biopsy revealed squamous cell carcinoma. Despite suspected distant metastases of other organ tumors, examinations such as digestive endoscopy and bronchoscopy did not reveal any tumor lesions. The patient was diagnosed with recurrent invasive urothelial carcinoma as a pathological feature of squamous cell carcinoma.ConclusionThe decision‐making process for treating malignant tumors, such as in cases with recurrence as squamous cell carcinoma, can be challenging.

Clinical Significance of Tumor Location for Ureteroscopic Tumor Grading in Upper Tract Urothelial Carcinoma.

Background: Although previous literature shows tumor location as a prognostic factor in upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC), there remains uninvestigated regarding the impact of tumor location on grade concordance and discrepancies between ureteroscopic (URS) biopsy and final radical nephroureterectomy (RNU) pathology. Methods: In this international study, we retrospectively reviewed the records of 1,498 patients with UTUC who underwent diagnostic URS with concomitant biopsy followed by RNU between 2005 and 2020. Tumor location was divided into four sections: the calyceal-pelvic system, proximal ureter, middle ureter, and distal ureter. Patients with multifocal tumors were excluded from the study. We performed multiple comparison tests and logistic regression analyses. Results: Overall, 1,154 patients were included; 54.4% of those with low-grade URS biopsies were upgraded on RNU. In the multiple comparison tests, middle ureter tumors exhibited the highest probability of upgrading, meanwhile pelvicalyceal tumors exhibited the lowest probability of upgrading (73.7% vs 48.5%, p = 0.007). Downgrading was comparable across all tumor locations. On multivariate analyses, middle ureteral location was significantly associated with a low probability of grade concordance (odds ratio [OR] 0.59; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.35-1.00; p = 0.049) and an increased risk of upgrading (OR 2.80; 95% CI, 1.20-6.52; p = 0.017). The discordance did not vary regardless of caliceal location, including the lower calyx. Conclusions: Middle ureteral tumors diagnosed to be low grade had a high probability to be undergraded. Our data can inform providers and their patients regarding the likelihood of undergrading according to tumor location, facilitating patient counseling and shared decision making regarding the choice of kidney sparing vs RNU.

Ureteral cancer successfully treated with laparoscopic nephroureterectomy with temporary intraoperative occlusion of the internal iliac artery for pelvic arteriovenous malformation.

Pelvic arteriovenous malformation is often a source of intraoperative bleeding. Here, we report our experience with a case of ureteral cancer with pelvic arteriovenous malformation treated using laparoscopic nephroureterectomy with temporary intraoperative occlusion of the internal iliac artery. A 75-year-old man presented to our hospital with asymptomatic macro-hematuria. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography revealed right ureteral tumor with no apparent metastases, and right pelvic arteriovenous malformation. Three months later, multiple bladder cancers were identified and the patient underwent trans-urethral resection of bladder tumor. The pathological diagnosis was urothelial carcinoma, pTa. We performed right laparoscopic nephroureterectomy with temporary intraoperative occlusion of the internal iliac artery. There was little intraoperative bleeding, and the surgery was safely completed. The pathological diagnosis was urothelial carcinoma, pT2 + Tis. A patient showing ureteral cancer with pelvic arteriovenous malformation was safely treated using laparoscopic nephroureterectomy with temporary occlusion of the internal iliac artery.

Metastasis of malignant melanoma to urinary tract: a case report

IntroductionMetastasis of malignant melanoma to urinary tract is reported to be rare. According to retrospective analysis of a single center study, improvement of overall survival was observed in patients with metastasis to the gastrointestinal tract that had undergone metastasectomy with curative intent. However, there is no significant evidence regarding resection for metastasis to urinary tract.Case presentationCase 1: an 86-year-old Japanese man was diagnosed with a small bladder tumor by computed tomography scan during post operative follow-up of malignant melanoma in the choroid of the left eye. Cystoscopy revealed black, nonpapillary tumors, suggesting metastatic malignant melanoma. Because no apparent invasive growth to muscle layer was observed by magnetic resonance imaging, transurethral resection was performed. Pathological appearance was compatible with metastatic malignant melanoma. No recurrence in urinary tract was observed; however, multiple liver metastasis was diagnosed at 3 months after surgery. Case 2: a 57-year-old Japanese man was diagnosed with right hydronephrosis due to ureteral tumor. He had a past history of subungual malignant melanoma to the left thumb 2 years prior to his visit. Right nephroureterectomy was performed, and pathological evaluation revealed metastatic malignant melanoma. He revisited 2 years later due to dysuria, and a large bladder tumor was revealed by ultrasound. Cystoscopy showed black-colored nonpapillary tumor, suggesting malignant melanoma. Total cystectomy was recommended; however, the patient withheld consent. Therefore, we performed transurethral resection. The resulting pathological finding was compatible with metastatic malignant melanoma without invasion to muscle layer. He remained free from local recurrence and metastasis for 22 years after surgery.ConclusionWe successfully performed metastasectomy for bladder and ureteral metastases without recurrence in the urinary tract. Long recurrence-free survival was observed in case 2. Complete resection for metastasis of malignant melanoma may have the potential to improve survival.

A rare ureteral tumour, what we know from the human side

A rare ureteral tumour, what we know from the human side

Robotic distal ureterectomy for high-risk distal ureteral urothelial carcinoma: a retrospective multicenter comparative analysis (ROBUUST 2.0 collaborative group).

The role of kidney-sparing surgery in patients with high-risk upper urinary tract urothelial carcinoma is controversial. The present study aimed to assess oncological and functional outcomes of robot-assisted distal ureterectomy in patients with high-risk distal ureteral tumors. The ROBUUST 2.0 multicenter international (2015-2022) dataset was used for this retrospective cohort analysis. High-risk patients with distal ureteral tumors were divided based on type of surgery: robot-assisted distal ureterectomy or robot-assisted nephroureterectomy. A survival analysis was performed for local recurrence-free survival, distant metastasis-free survival, and overall survival. After adjusting for clinical features of the high-risk prognostic group, Cox proportional hazard model was plotted to evaluate significant predictors of time-to-event outcomes. Overall, 477 patients were retrieved, of which 58 received robot-assisted distal ureterectomy and 419 robot-assisted nephroureterectomy, respectively, with a mean (±SD) follow-up of 29.6 months (±2.6). The two groups were comparable in terms of baseline features. At survival analysis, no significant difference was observed in terms of recurrence-free survival (P=0.6), metastasis-free survival (P=0.5) and overall survival (P=0.7) between robot-assisted distal ureterectomy and robot-assisted nephroureterectomy. At Cox regression analysis, type of surgery was never a significant predictor of worse oncological outcomes. At last follow-up patients undergoing robot-assisted distal ureterectomy had significantly better postoperative renal function. Comparable outcomes in terms of recurrence-free survival, metastasis-free survival, and overall survival between robot-assisted distal ureterectomy and robot-assisted nephroureterectomy patients, and better postoperative renal function preservation in the former group were observed. Kidney-sparing surgery should be considered as a potential option for selected patients with high-risk distal ureteral UTUC.

Multimodality imaging of ureteral desmoplastic small round cell tumor: a case description and literature analysis of 18F-fluoro-2-deoxy-d-glucose positron emission tomography-computed tomography findings.

Multimodality imaging of ureteral desmoplastic small round cell tumor: a case description and literature analysis of 18F-fluoro-2-deoxy-d-glucose positron emission tomography-computed tomography findings.

Nephron-Sparing Surgery for Upper Urinary Tract Urothelial Carcinoma

Radical nephroureterectomy (RNU) remains the gold standard for the surgical management of upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC) from the ureterovesical junction to the renal pelvis. However, the removal of the ipsilateral intact kidney causes morbidity due to renal functional deterioration after RNU. Recently, the indications for nephron-sparing surgery (NSS) in UTUC have been expanded to preserve the intact kidney. Minimally invasive surgical approaches, including endourological, laparoscopic, and robotic-assisted techniques for segmental resection of the distal ureter with ureteral reimplantation have shown favorable oncological and clinical outcomes (for both noninvasive and invasive ureteral tumors). The established guidelines for UTUC have limited indications for NSS. Because of low tumor burden, stage Ta/T1 UTUC is considered the best indication for NSS. NSS requires close follow-up and managing the risk of recurrence in the preserved ipsilateral ureter and/or renal pelvis. To overcome these limitations, adjuvant administration of various immuno-chemotherapeutic agents is being explored to overcome the resistance to therapeutic cell death and evasion of immune destruction from current therapies with better prognostic outcomes. The aim is to reduce urothelial cancer recurrence improving the effectiveness of NSS and to achieve comparable outcomes to RNU in UTUC. In this review article, we have comprehensively discussed the different types of NSS in UTUC, the indications for NSS in the international guidelines, and oncological outcomes of each of the NSS techniques.

Non-neoplastic Kidney Diseases in Adult Tumor Nephrectomy and Nephroureterectomy Specimens in a Southeast Asian Tertiary Medical Center

OBJECTIVE: Non-neoplastic kidney diseases are concurrently present in up to 15% of patients with renal and ureteral tumors, which have been most studied in the United States. This study was conducted to determine the prevalence and spectrum of renal parenchymal diseases in similar patients from a Southeast Asian academic institution.METHODS: We searched the database of the Department of Anatomical Pathology, Faculty of Medicine Vajira Hospital, Navamindradhiraj University (2012–2022) and found 194 adult nephrectomy and nephroureterectomy specimens with renal, renal pelvis, and ureteral tumors. Additional stains included periodic acid-Schiff, methenamine silver, and Masson trichrome. Direct immunofluorescence microscopy was performed on the paraffin tissue sections for immunoglobulin (Ig) G, IgA, IgM, and kappa and lambda light chains. Clinical information, including age, gender, and co-morbidities, was obtained from the electronic medical records.RESULTS: Analysis of the 194 cases demonstrated the average age was 61 years (range: 17-89 years), with 126 males (65%) and 68 females (35%). After re-examination of the non-neoplastic renal parenchyma, 14 cases (7%) had diffused and/or nodular mesangial sclerosis. Diabetic nephropathy (12 cases) and idiopathic nodular glomerulosclerosis (2 cases) were diagnosed and associated with either stage 1 or 2 genitourinary cancers. Another case was diagnosed with atheroembolic renal disease. In all cases, the concurrent renal diseases were not identified during the initial evaluation.CONCLUSION: Examination of the non-neoplastic renal parenchyma is important to identify non-neoplastic kidney diseases, such as diabetic nephropathy, so early treatment may result in improved clinical outcomes for kidney and urothelial cancer patients.

Comparison of intravesical chemotherapy regimens after radical nephroureterectomy for upper tract urothelial carcinoma and analysis of risk factors for postoperative recurrence.

Upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC) is a relatively rare but aggressive type of urologic cancer that includes renal pelvic tumors and ureteral tumors with a poor prognosis. Full-length nephroureterectomy plus sleeve bladder resection is the standard treatment for the disease, but patients are prone to recurrence of bladder tumors after surgery. Intravesical infusion therapy is the main means to prevent the recurrence and progression of bladder cancer. Epirubicin and gemcitabine are widely used in clinical practice as first-line or salvage therapy for intravesical chemotherapy; however, the efficacy of these agents is rarely discussed. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of epirubicin and gemcitabine on the occurrence of bladder cancer after radical nephroureterectomy for UTUC and to analyze the risk factors affecting the recurrence of postoperative bladder cancer. A total of 215 patients with diagnosed UTUC and treated in our hospital from June 2019 to August 2021 were retrospectively selected as the research subjects, and they were divided into an observation group (120 cases) and a control group (95 cases) according to different treatment methods. The patients in the control group were treated with epirubicin, while those in the observation group received gemcitabine. All patients were followed up by telephone or outpatient examination for 12 months to record the occurrence of adverse reactions. The occurrence of bladder cancer was recorded at 3 months, 6 months, and 12 months after the surgery. According to the occurrence of bladder cancer after surgery, the patients were divided into a bladder cancer group (63 cases) and a non-bladder cancer group (152 cases). Multivariate Logistic regression analysis was used to analyze the risk factors of bladder cancer after surgery. The total incidence of adverse reactions in the control group was 49.47%, which was higher than that in the observation group with 15.00% (p<0.01). The incidence of bladder tumors in the observation group and the control group was 0.00% and 2.11% at 3 months, 5.00% and 8.42% at 6 months, 13.33% and 15.79% at 12 months, without significant difference (p>0.05). After 12 months of perfusion, the levels of acidic fibroblast growth factor (aFGF), basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in the two groups were significantly lower than those before perfusion (p<0.05). In the observation group, the levels of these three factors were slightly decreased compared with those in the control group, without a significant difference (p>0.05). Between the bladder cancer and non-bladder cancer groups, there were significant differences in tumor location, number of lesions, tumor stage, preoperative ureteral examination, and preoperative history of bladder cancer (p<0.05). The above indexes were all risk factors for postoperative bladder cancer (p<0.05). Epirubicin and gemcitabine reduced the occurrence of bladder cancer and effectively inhibited tumor angiogenesis after radical nephroureterectomy for UTUC. The tumor location, number of lesions, tumor stage, preoperative ureteral examination, and preoperative history of bladder cancer were risk factors for postoperative bladder cancer.

Analysis of progression after elective distal ureterectomy and effects of salvage radical nephroureterectomy in patients with distal ureteral urothelial carcinoma

We compared the progression patterns after radical nephroureterectomy (RNU) and elective distal ureterectomy (DU) in patients with urothelial carcinoma of the distal ureter. Between Jan 2011 and Dec 2020, 127 patients who underwent RNU and 46 who underwent elective DU for distal ureteral cancer were enrolled in this study. The patterns of progression and upper tract recurrence were compared between the two groups. Progression was defined as a local recurrence and/or distant metastasis after surgery. Upper tract recurrence and subsequent treatment in patients with DU were analyzed. Progression occurred in 35 (27.6%) and 10 (21.7%) patients in the RNU and DU groups, respectively. The progression pattern was not significantly different (p = 0.441), and the most common progression site was the lymph nodes in both groups. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that pT2 stage, concomitant lymphovascular invasion, and nodal stage were significant predictors of disease progression. Upper tract recurrence was observed in nine (19.6%) patients with DU, and six (66.7%) patients had a prior history of bladder tumor. All patients with upper tract recurrence after DU were managed with salvage RNU. Elective DU with or without salvage treatment was not a risk factor for disease progression (p = 0.736), overall survival (p = 0.457), cancer-specific survival (p = 0.169), or intravesical recurrence-free survival (p = 0.921). In terms of progression patterns and oncological outcomes, there was no difference between patients who underwent RNU and elective DU with/without salvage treatment. Elective DU should be considered as a therapeutic option for distal ureter tumor.

Urinary Endometriosis Misdiagnosed as Ureteral Malignant Tumor by PET/CT: A Case Study.

Endometriosis is a chronic inflammatory estrogen-dependent benign disease. It is defined as the endometrium growing outside the uterine cavity and the myometrium. It usually has low FDG uptake but rarely occurs in the ureters. We reported a case of a 47-year-old woman's left ureteral nodule originally misdiagnosed as a ureteral malignant tumor by PET/CT and finally pathologically confirmed as endometriosis.

Prognostic factors of intravesical recurrence after radical nephroureterectomy for upper tract urothelial carcinoma.

To evaluate predictive factors of increasing intravesical recurrence (IVR) rate in patients with upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC) after receiving radical nephroureterectomy (RNUx) with bladder cuff excision (BCE). A total of 2114 patients were included from the updated data of the Taiwan UTUC Collaboration Group. It was divided into two groups: IVR-free and IVR after RNUx, with 1527 and 587 patients, respectively. To determine the factors affecting IVR, TNM stage, the usage of pre-operative ureteroscopy, and pathological outcomes were evaluated. The Kaplan-Meier estimator was used to estimate the rates of prognostic outcomes in overall survival (OS), cancer-specific survival (CSS), disease-free survival (DFS), and bladder recurrence-free survival (BRFS), and the survival curves were compared using the stratified log-rank test. Based on our research, ureter tumor, female, smoking history, age (< 70years old), multifocal tumor, history of bladder cancer were determined to increase the risk of IVR after univariate analysis. The multivariable analysis revealed that female (BRFS for male: HR 0.566, 95% CI 0.469-0.681, p < 0.001), ureter tumor (BRFS: HR 1.359, 95% CI 1.133-1.631, p = 0.001), multifocal (BRFS: HR 1.200, 95% CI 1.001-1.439, p = 0.049), history of bladder cancer (BRFS: HR 1.480, 95% CI 1.118-1.959, p = 0.006) were the prognostic factors for IVR. Patients who ever received ureterorenoscopy (URS) did not increase the risk of IVR. Patients with ureter tumor and previous bladder UC history are important factors to increase the risk of IVR after RNUx. Pre-operative URS manipulation is not associated with higher risk of IVR and diagnostic URS is feasible especially for insufficient information of image study. More frequent surveillance regimen may be needed for these patients.

Robot-assisted radical nephroureterectomy for upper urinary tract tumor: initial experience with the use of novel surgical robot system, hinotori.

The hinotori surgical robot system is a promising robotic platform that has been recently introduced into routine clinical practice. The aim of this study was to report our initial experience of robot-assisted radical nephroureterectomy (RANU) using hinotori. This study included a total of eight patients with upper urinary tract tumor (UUTT) who underwent RANU using hinotori via the transperitoneal approach. In this series, nephrectomy was initially performed at the kidney direction stage followed by distal ureterectomy and bladder cuff excision at the bladder direction stage without repositioning of patient or port. Lymphadenectomy was performed at either stage. Median age, body mass index, and tumor diameter were 76 years, 21.7 kg/m2, and 13 mm, respectively. Of eight patients, three were diagnosed with renal pelvic tumors and five with lower ureteral tumors. They underwent lymphadenectomy targeting the renal hilum plus para-aorta and the pelvis, respectively. All procedures in this series were completed without conversion to open surgery. Median operative time, time using the robotic system, estimated blood loss, and length of hospital stay were 230 minutes, 138 minutes, 23 mL, and 8 days, respectively. No major perioperative complication occurred. Pathological examinations of the tumors revealed seven urothelial carcinomas and one papilloma, the median number of resected lymph nodes was 13, and one patient was positive for both cancer margin and lymph node metastases. Despite being a small case series, this is the first study characterizing RANU using the hinotori surgical robot system. RANU was efficaciously and safely performed, resulting in the achievement of favorable perioperative findings.

A rare clinical observation of ureteral IgG4-related disease in urological practice: A case report

IgG4-related disease (IgG4-RD) is a systemic immune-dependent pathology marked by infiltration of lymphocytes and plasma cells expressing IgG4 in affected tissues, leading to phlebitis and fibrosclerosis. In urological practice, diagnosing IgG4-RD of the ureter, which may resemble a malignant tumor, presents challenges. We present a unique case: a 64-year-old patient (Patient P.) experienced left lumbar discomfort and a 4 kg weight loss over 2 months. A computed tomography scan revealed a 111 mm tumor obstructing the left ureter, causing hydronephrosis and regional lymphadenopathy. Suspecting ureteral urothelial cancer, the patient underwent a left nephroureterectomy with lymphadenectomy. Microscopic analysis revealed fibrosis and inflammation infiltration (lymphocytes, plasma cells, and eosinophils) in the ureter wall, with no evidence of tumor growth. Immunohistochemistry confirmed IgG4-positive plasma cells. Serum IgG4 rose to 149 mg/dL. Morphological findings led to a diagnosis of IgG4-RD of the ureter. Clinically, it is crucial to recognize IgG4-RD in ureteral neoplasms for early detection, to prevent unnecessary surgical intervention.

Oncologic outcomes of patients treated with kidney-sparing surgery or radical nephroureterectomy for upper urinary tract urothelial cancer: a population-based study

PurposeAlthough kidney-sparing surgery (KSS) is a nonminor option for low-risk upper urinary tract urothelial cancer (UTUC), its oncological benefits in high-risk UTUC remain unclear when compared to radical nephroureterectomy (RNU). This study aimed to compare the oncological outcomes of RNU and KSS in patients with UTUC. MethodsWe searched the SEER database for patients treated for primary non-metastatic UTUC with either RNU or a kidney-sparing approach (segmental ureterectomy (SU) or local tumor excision (LTE)) between 2004 and 2018. ResultsThe study included 6,659 patients with primary non-metastatic UTUC treated with surgery; 2,888 (43.4%) and 3,771 (56.6%) patients presented with ureteral and renal pelvicalyceal tumors, respectively. Finally, 5,479 (82.3%) patients underwent RNU, 799 (12.0%) were treated with SU, and 381 (5.7%) patients received LTE. For confounder control, propensity score matching (PSM) of patients treated with SU and RNU was performed to adjust for T stage, grade, age, gender, tumor size, and lymphadenectomy performance. PSM analysis included 694 patients treated with RNU and 694 individuals who underwent SU. In multivariable Cox regression and Kaplan-Meier analyses, we found no difference in either CSS or OS between RNU and SU, even in the subgroup of high-grade and/or muscle-invasive UTUC including pT3-T4 tumors (all p > 0.05). ConclusionIn this population-based study, SU provides equivalent CSS and OS compared to RNU, even in high-risk and locally advanced ureteral cancer. Due to the unavoidable risk of selection bias, further prospective studies are expected to overcome the limitations of this study and support the wider implementation of KSS.

Endoscopic excision versus radical nephroureterectomy for non-muscle invasive upper tract urothelial carcinoma: A population-based large cohort study

BackgroundAs an important kidney-sparing treatment for upper urothelial carcinoma (UTUC), whether endoscopic excision can be performed without sacrificing oncologic outcomes remains indefinite. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence and efficacy of endoscopic excision, in patients with non-muscle invasive UTUC (NMIUTUC) and compare them to those of radical nephroureterectomy (RNU). MethodsUsing the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database, we reviewed 4347 cases with NMIUTUC (cTis/Ta/T1-N0-M0,≤ 5.0 cm) between 2004 and 2020. Surgical treatment modalities included endoscopic excision and RNU. Propensity score matching analysis was used to minimize the selection bias between endoscopic excision and RNU, selecting 1:1 matched patients in the two group. ResultsA total of 794 patients with NMIUTUC were included after matching (397:397). Patients who underwent endoscopic excision had worse survival outcomes compared with those of patients who underwent RNU (5-year OS: 65.3 % vs. 80.3 %, p < 0.0001; 5-year DSS: 83.2 % vs. 94.0 %, p = 0.00021). After stratification by anatomical sites, the effect of endoscopic excision for NMI renal pelvis cancer was worse than RNU (5-year OS, 62.9 % vs. 82.8 %; 5-year DSS, 78.8 % vs. 91.6 %), while in NMI ureteral cancer, there is no statistically significant difference in OS and DSS between endoscopic excision and RNU. Further stratification according to tumor grade revealed equivalent tumor control effects of endoscopic excision and RNU in low-grade NMI ureteral cancer (5-year OS: 67.7 % vs. 72.5 %, p = 0.23; 5-year DSS: 87.2 % vs. 93.1 %, p = 0.17); while for renal pelvis tumor and high-grade ureteral tumor, endoscopic excision was related with significantly inferior prognosis. ConclusionsOnly for low-grade NMI ureteral cancer, endoscopic excision and RNU are oncologically equivalent, indicating that endoscopic excision might be an effective option for low-grade NMI ureteral cancer. This result needs to be further verified in randomized controlled trials.

Localized amyloidosis of the ureter: a case report

BackgroundAmyloidosis is a collection of disorders characterized by the extracellular deposition of amyloid, a specialized fibrous protein, in diverse tissues, leading to functional impairments.Case presentationA 70-year old Asian-Japanese female was referred to our department for further examination of her left hydronephrosis come from lower ureteral obstruction. Contrast enhanced CT and retrograde pyelo-nephrography revealed left ureteral tumor. Though ureteroscropic biopsy did not show malignant pathological findings, ureteroscopic image suspected malignant disease, thus nephroureterectomy was performed. Pathological findings revealed localized ureteral amyloidosis. Whole body examination including gastro endoscopy and cardio ultrasonography could not reveal amyloidosis except ureter. She was free from recurrence 9 months postoperatively.ConclusionWe herein report a rare case of localized ureteral amyloidosis.

Experts' recommendations in laser use for the treatment of upper tract urothelial carcinoma: a comprehensive guide by the European Section of Uro-Technology (ESUT) and Training Research in Urological Surgery and Technology (T.R.U.S.T.) group.

To highlight and compare experts' laser settings during endoscopic laser treatment of upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC), to identify measures to reduce complications, and to propose guidance for endourologists. Following a focused literature search to identify relevant questions, a survey was sent to laser experts. We asked participants for typical settings during specific scenarios (ureteroscopy (URS), retrograde intrarenal surgery (RIRS), and percutaneous treatment). These settings were compared among the reported laser types to find common settings and limits. Additionally, we identified preventive measures commonly applied during surgery. Twenty experts completed the survey, needing a mean time of 12.7min. Overall, most common laser type was Holmium-Yttrium-Aluminum-Garnet (Ho:YAG) (70%, 14/20) followed by Thulium fiber laser (TFL) (45%, 9/20), pulsed Thulium-Yttrium-Aluminum-Garnet (Tm:YAG) (3/20, 15%), and continuous wave (cw)Tm:YAG (1/20, 5%). Pulse energy for the treatment of distal ureteral tumors was significantly different with median settings of 0.9J, 1J and 0.45J for Ho:YAG, TFL and pulsed Tm:YAG, respectively (p = 0.048). During URS and RIRS, pulse shapes were significantly different, with Ho:YAG being used in long pulse and TFL in short pulse mode (all p < 0.05). We did not find further disparities. Ho:YAG is used by most experts, while TFL is the most promising alternative. Laser settings largely do not vary significantly. However, further research with novel lasers is necessary to define the optimal approach. With the recent introduction of small caliber and more flexible scopes, minimal-invasive UTUC treatment is further undergoing an extension of applicability in appropriately selected patients.

The Efficacy of Neoadjuvant Gemcitabine and Cisplatin Chemotherapy for cT3N0M0 Upper Tract Urothelial Carcinoma: The Impact of Tumor Location.

Upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC) can be divided into renal pelvis tumor (RPT) and ureteral tumor (UT) based on the tumor origin. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of neoadjuvant chemotherapy with gemcitabine and cisplatin (NAC-GC) in terms of the pathological outcomes and oncological prognoses in patients with UTUC. We also compared its efficacy between RPT and UT. Patients who underwent radical nephroureterectomy for clinical T (cT)3N0M0 UTUC between 1999 and 2021 were included. Patients who underwent NAC-GC and those who did not were included in the NAC-GC and non-NAC-GC groups, respectively. Based on the tumor origin, we divided patients with UTUC into RPT and UT groups. Oncological prognosis was assessed using progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival. Of 44 patients, 20 (45.5%) and 24 (54.5%) patients were in the NAC-GC and non-NAC-GC groups, respectively. The NAC-GC group had significantly lower pathological T stage and negative lymphovascular invasion (LVI), and a better PFS (p < .05) compared to those in the non-NAC-GC group. Among patients with RPT, the NAC-GC group had significantly negative LVI and better PFS than the non-NAC-GC group (p < .05). In contrast, in patients with UT, the NAC-GC group had no significant difference in pathological outcomes, and no significant difference in oncological prognosis was observed between the NAC-GC and non-NAC-GC groups. NAC-GC improves both pathological outcomes and oncological prognosis in patients with cT3N0M0 UTUC. With regard to tumor location, RPT has better pathological outcomes and oncological prognoses than UT.