Elective endoscopic management of transitional cell carcinoma first diagnosed in the upper urinary tract

OBJECTIVE: To report our experience using ureteroscopic or percutaneous management of upper urinary tract (UUT) transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) in patients with no history of bladder TCC. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between 1983 and 2004 we identified 22 patients who underwent endoscopic management of TCC first diagnosed in the UUT and in the setting of a normal contralateral kidney. We performed a retrospective chart review and conducted outcome analyses. RESULTS: The median (range) age at diagnosis was 64 (37-86) years and the median tumour size was 0.8 (0.3-2.6) cm. The tumour grade was 1, 2, or diagnosed as visual low grade in two (9%), seven (32%), and 13 (59%) patients, respectively; no patient had grade 3 TCC at diagnosis. Tumour stage was Ta or visual Ta in all patients. The median follow-up was 4.9 (0.4-17) years during which 11 (50%) patients developed 21 UUT recurrences and 10 (45%) patients developed bladder TCC. At last follow-up, seven (32%) patients required a nephroureterectomy for recurrent TCC and two (9%) patients died from TCC. Among 13 patients with a diagnosis based on visual inspection only, three recurred with grade 3 invasive TCC during follow-up. No patient with pathological confirmation of low-grade/stage TCC recurred with high-grade or invasive TCC. CONCLUSIONS: Recurrence is common after endoscopic management of UUT-TCC, underscoring the need for strict surveillance. Patients diagnosed visually, without adequate tissue for pathological examination, can recur with high-grade invasive TCC. No patient with pathological confirmation of low-grade TCC developed progressive disease during follow-up.