Nd:YAG laser application in the treatment of upper urinary tract tumours

Abstract

— 29 patients were referred to our Department for upper urinary tract tumours and underwent ureteropyeloscopy with laser irradiation of the neoplasm. All the patients had been selected for this treatment previously because of solitary kidney, bilateral tumours, poor renal function, refusal of nephroureterectomy. The tumours were treated with Nd:YAG laser irradiation at 25–30 Watts/3 sec. Before the procedure, the ureter and pelvis were accessed by a 0.035 inch guide wire or 4 French ureteral catheter. No important side effects were noted after the procedure in 27 of the 29 patients. Two patients developed ureteral stenosis; the first after several treatments, the other after the first treatment. Follow-up consists of endoscopic surveillance every three months in the first year then every 6 months in the absence of recurrences. At present 10 patients are tumour-free, 3 patients underwent nephroureterectomy for massive recurrences and the other patients underwent new laser irradiation.