Current Status of Laparoscopic Radical Nephroureterectomy in the Treatment Modalities for Upper Urinary Tract Tumors

The standard treatment for upper urinary tract tumors is still open radical nephroureterectomy (ORNU), i.e. excision of the kidney with entire length of ureter and adjacent segment of bladder cuff. ORNU is a morbid procedure that usually requires at least two abdominal incisions. The minimally invasive alternative to this morbid operation is laparoscopic radical nephroureterectomy (LRNU), which is still controversial in terms of oncological outcomes. In this study we reviewed current literature in order to present technical varieties of LRNU procedure with advantages and disadvantages as well as oncological outcomes by comparing other treatment modalities.