[What is the role of endoscopy in the diagnosis and treatment of tumors of the upper urinary tract?].

17 patients with upper urinary tract tumours were investigated by endoscopy. 3 patients (Group I) with fibrous or fibroepithelial polyps were treated via a retrograde approach and did not develop any recurrences. 2 patients (Group II) developed unexplained haematuria: the diagnosis of high-grade carcinoma was confirmed by endoscopy and they were treated by nephroureterectomy. 12 patients (Group III) with low grade non-invasive urothelial carcinoma, in whom radical surgical was not indicated, were treated conservatively via the percutaneous (13 tumours) or retrograde (1 tumour) endoscopic approach. The local recurrence rate was 33% (4 out of 12 tumours) for a mean follow-up of 22 months. The recurrences were treated by repeated endoscopy in 3 patients, and by nephroureterectomy in 1 patient. Endoscopic treatment of upper urinary tract tumours should be reserved for benign tumours and selected cases of low-grade, non-invasive urothelial carcinoma.