Oncologic Outcomes for Complete Robot-Assisted Laparoscopic Management of Upper-Tract Transitional Cell Carcinoma

Background and Purpose: The gold standard for treatment of upper-tract transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) is nephroureterectomy. For distal ureteral TCC, distal ureterectomy with ureteral reimplantation represents a treatment option. Multiple minimally invasive techniques have been introduced with the goal of replicating these open procedures. Currently, there is a paucity of literature for the use of robot-assisted laparoscopic (RAL) management of upper-tract TCC. We evaluated our experience with RAL management of upper-tract TCC. Patients and Methods: A retrospective chart review was performed on all patients who underwent complete RAL nephroureterectomy or distal ureterectomy with ureteral reimplantation at our institution. Results: Eleven patients with a mean age of 67.4 years underwent RAL nephroureterectomy. Mean operative time was 326 minutes (range 243-470 minutes), estimated blood loss 200 mL (range 100-400 mL), and mean length of hospital stay was 4.7 days. With a mean follow-up of 15.2 months (range 2-31 months), four patients experienced recurrence, and two ultimately died from metastatic disease. Four patients with a mean age of 73.5 years underwent RAL distal ureterectomy with ureteral reimplantation for distal ureteral TCC. Mean operative time was 311 minutes (range 225-446 minutes), estimated blood loss 200 mL (range 100-350 mL), and mean length of hospital stay was 4.7 days. With a mean follow-up of 30.5 months (range 12-48 months), only one patient, whose pathology exhibited carcinoma in situ within periureteral tissue, required adjuvant treatment for recurrent disease. Conclusions: RAL nephroureterectomy and distal ureterectomy with ureteral reimplantation are feasible options for patients with upper-tract TCC with promising short-term oncologic outcomes.