Factors predictive of oncological outcome after nephroureterectomy: comparison between laparoscopic and open procedures.

Background: Although laparoscopic radical nephroureterectomy is the standard treatment for localized upper urinary tract urothelial carcinoma, open radical nephroureterectomy has been reported to have a different rate of intravesical recurrence.

Methods: Intravesical recurrence-free, progression-free, and overall survival rates among patients undergoing open and laparoscopic radical nephroureterectomy from 2002 to 2013 were analyzed.

Results: Although no single factor predicted intravesical recurrence-free survival, a past history of bladder cancer or grade 3 was related to poorer intravesical recurrence-free survival rate in patients treated with laparoscopic radical nephroureterectomy. Moreover, the novel proposed risk classification based on our data clearly showed better progression-free survival and overall survival, as well as intravesical recurrence-free survival, in patients treated with laparoscopic radical nephroureterectomy.

Conclusions: The findings reported here may help urologists predict oncological outcomes and to plan follow-up schedules after laparoscopic radical nephroureterectomy.