Diagnostic status and new explorations in upper urinary tract urothelial carcinoma: a literature review.

ABSTRACT:

Background and objective

Upper urinary tract urothelial carcinomas (UTUCs) are characterized by their obscure location, insidious onset, and propensity for early muscle-invasive and lymph node metastasis, resulting in a generally poor prognosis. Clinically, diagnosis primarily relies on urine cytology, computed tomography urography (CTU), and white light ureteroscopy (WL-URS). These methods, however, suffer from low sensitivity, high cost, inefficient testing, patient discomfort, surgery-related complications, and potential tumor implantation. This literature review summarizes the advantages and disadvantages of the existing diagnostic tools for UTUC and discusses promising advancements in the field.

Methods

A comprehensive computer-assisted search, supplemented by literatur

SUBMITTER: Shan Z 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11650341 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature