Use of the neodymium-YAG laser in the treatment of ureteral tumors and urethral condylomata acuminata. Clinical experience.

The further development of endoscopic instruments has made neodymium-YAG laser irradiation of ureteral tumors possible. To date a total of 13 ureteral tumors in 10 patients have been photocoagulated. Over a mean follow-up period of 23 months, only 1 heterotopic recurrence was found after 14 months. In view of the results achieved so far, nephroureterectomy as the first therapeutic step appears to have been made obsolete. Since 1979 we have treated 48 patients with the neodymium-YAG laser. Seven patients with excessive condyloma involvement were followed postoperatively. Our experience indicates that, in view of its low complication and recurrence rates, endoscopic laser coagulation of urethral condylomata is the method of choice. A short-term ureteroscopic follow-up examination, however, is required to detect any condylomata that might have been overlooked.