Multicenter cohort study demonstrates low complication and recurrence rates for laser ablation in upper tract urothelial carcinoma, highlighting its feasibility in selected patients.
Key Points
To assess the safety and clinical efficacy of different laser ablation technologies, including the Holmium:YAG Magneto pulse modulation, for treating upper tract urothelial carcinoma.
Evaluated 68 patients with upper tract urothelial carcinoma treated across two centres between February 2022 and June 2025.
Assessed three laser modalities: Holmium:YAG with Vapor Tunnel modulation, thulium fibre laser, and Holmium:YAG with Magneto pulse modulation.
No intraoperative complications occurred during a mean operative time of 44.3 minutes; post-procedural complications occurred in 19.1% of patients, primarily haematuria (10.3%).
Tumour recurrence was observed in 17.6% (12/68) of patients at a mean of 3.3 months; at final follow-up, 80.9% of patients were alive and disease-free, and urothelial carcinoma mortality was 1.5%.