LONG-TERM OUTCOME OF FLEXIBLE URETERORENOSCOPY IN THE DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT OF LATERALIZING ESSENTIAL HEMATURIA

Purpose: We identified the long-term outcome of ureterorenoscopic diag nosis and treatment of patients with lateralizing essential hematuria. Materials and Methods: We reviewed retrospectively 17 patients with l ateralizing essential hematuria treated with flexible ureterorenoscopy (15) or flexible percutaneous nephroscopy (2) with or without biopsy and electrocoagulation. Followup was longer than 24 months (average 60 , range 24 to 116) in all patients. Results: At followup 9 of the 17 p atients (59%) were cured and 7 (41%) had recurrent bleeding. Discrete lesions occurred in 11 patients (64%), who were treated with electroco agulation with 9 (82%) cured. All 3 patients (18%) with diffuse lesion s had recurrent bleeding as did 2 of 3 (66%, 18% overall) with negativ e examinations. Conclusions: Ureterorenoscopy is an effective means of diagnosis and treatment of lateralizing essential hematuria. The majo rity of patients with lateralizing hematuria will have a discrete lesi on that will respond to ureterorenoscopic electrocoagulation in the lo ng term. However, if the lesions are diffuse or the diagnostic examina tion is unreliable recurrent bleeding is likely.