Ureterectomy and ureteral reimplatation for low-grade transitional cell carcinoma: is the laparoscopic approach feasible and effective?

: As it is well known, the gold-standard to treat ureteric and pelvi-caliceal transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) is nephroureterectomy. Nevertheless, in particular circumstances, such as solitary kidney, a more conservative treatment is needed. Conservative treatment has been reported for low-grade TCC, also. In this paper we discuss the laparoscopic approach to low-grade ureteric TCC in patients with otherwise normal urinary tract. After reporting a case of a patient treated with this approach, we deal with some technical aspect of the surgical procedure and with the pre-operative and post-operative management of the patient.