Risk-adapted strategy for the kidney-sparing management of upper tract tumours

The conservative management of upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC) was traditionally restricted to patients with imperative indications only. However, current recommendations suggest selected patients with normal, functioning contralateral kidneys should also be considered for such an approach. A risk-adapted strategy to accurately select patients who could benefit from kidney-sparing surgery without compromising their oncological safety has been advocated. A number of kidney-sparing surgical procedures are available. Despite the advent of ureteroscopic management, segmental ureterectomy and the percutaneous approach both have specific indications for use that predominantly depend on the tumour location and progression risk. These kidney-sparing procedures are cost-effective, and when used to treat patients with low-risk UTUC, are associated with oncological outcomes similar to radical nephroureterectomy. Systematic second-look endoscopy combined with upper tract instillations of topical chemotherapeutic agents after ureteroscopic or percutaneous surgery and a single early intravesical instillation of mitomycin C after any kidney-sparing procedure might decrease the risks of local recurrence and progression. Meticulous and stringent endoscopic monitoring of the upper and lower urinary tract is a key component of the conservative management of UTUC. Local recurrences are often suitable for repeat conservative therapy, whereas disease progression should be treated with delayed radical nephroureterectomy.