Purpose: To review the latest evidence on the modern techniques and outcomes of kidney-sparing surgeries (KSS) in patients with upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC).
Methods: A comprehensive literature search on the study topic was conducted before 30 April 2023 using electronic databases including PubMed, MEDLINE, and EMBASE. A narrative overview of the literature was then provided based on the extracted data and a qualitative synthesis of the findings.
Results: KSS is recommended for low- as well as select high-risk UTUCs who are not eligible for radical treatments. Endoscopic ablation is a KSS option that is associated with similar oncological outcomes compared with radical treatments while preserving renal function in well-selected patients. The other option in this setting is distal ureterectomy, which has the advantage of providing a definitive pathological stage and grade. Data from retrospective studies support the superiority of this approach over radical treatment with similar oncological outcomes, albeit in select cases. Novel chemoablation agents have also been studied in the past few years, of which mitomycin gel has received FDA approval for use in low-risk UTUCs.
Conclusion: KSSs are acceptable approaches for patients with low- and select high-risk UTUCs, which preserve renal function without compromising the oncological outcomes.
Keywords: kidney-sparing surgery; radical nephroureterectomy; upper tract urothelial cell carcinoma; ureteroscopy.