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Oncological risk of laparoscopic surgery in urothelial carcinomas

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Abstract

Objective

To assess the oncological safety of laparoscopic procedures for the management of urothelial carcinomas of the urinary tract.

Methods

Data on laparoscopic management of urothelial carcinomas in the literature were analysed using MEDLINE and by matching the following keywords: urological malignancies, upper tract tumours, bladder carcinomas, laparoscopic approach, recurrence, follow-up and metastasis site.

Results

Minimally invasive techniques are being used increasingly in the management of these tumours and successfully achieving the benefits of lower blood loss and more rapid patient recovery. To date, no evidence level 1 information is available and published series of these technically challenging cases are small and follow-up limited. Short to medium term follow-up appears encouraging in terms of recurrence and survival rates, but long-term data are immature compared to the established open techniques these procedures seek to duplicate. Specific concerns in terms of the oncologic safety of laparoscopy, especially with regard to the pneumoperitoneum, tumour manipulation and specimen extraction are addressed. Port-site metastases and tumour seeding are rare events and appear to be mainly related to the grade and stage of the tumour. Specific precautions are required to minimise these risks.

Conclusion

Oncological results of the laparoscopic approach are difficult to compare with those of open surgery. However, recent series have not reported unusual tumour dissemination or a higher rate of recurrence with this approach. Laparoscopic techniques are not yet standard of care in invasive urothelial carcinomas. Long-term assessment is ongoing and awaited.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. “Comité de Cancérologie de l’Association Française d’Urologie” (CC-AFU), Paris, France

    Morgan Rouprêt, Jacques Irani, Laurent Guy, Jean-Louis Davin, Fabien Saint, Christian Pfister, Hervé Wallerand & François Rozet

  2. Faculté de Médecine Pierre et Marie Curie, University Paris VI, Paris, France

    Morgan Rouprêt

  3. Institut Mutualiste Montsouris, Faculté de Médecine René Descartes, University Paris V, Paris, France

    Gordon Smyth & François Rozet

  4. Academic Urology Department, Hôpital Pitié-Salpétrière, 47-83 Boulevard de l’hôpital, 75013, Paris, France

    Morgan Rouprêt

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  1. Morgan Rouprêt
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  2. Gordon Smyth
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Correspondence to Morgan Rouprêt.

Additional information

“Comité de Cancérologie de l’Association Française d’Urologie” (CC-AFU) as French national group of experts in urothelial carcinomas of the French Urological Association advisory board 2007–2009: Stephane Bernardini, Catherine Mazerolles, Catherine Roy, Christine Théodore.

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Rouprêt, M., Smyth, G., Irani, J. et al. Oncological risk of laparoscopic surgery in urothelial carcinomas. World J Urol 27, 81–88 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00345-008-0349-x

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