Laparoscopic surgery in urologic oncology.

BACKGROUND: Techniques in genitourinary oncologic surgery have evolved over the past several years, shifting from traditional open approaches toward minimally invasive routes by laparoscopy.
METHODS: We reviewed the literature on laparoscopic surgery for genitourinary cancer, with emphasis on contemporary indications, complications, and oncologic outcome of laparoscopic surgery for urologic malignancies.
RESULTS: All urologic oncology procedures have been performed laparoscopically. Laparoscopic radical nephrectomy is becoming the preferred approach for managing kidney cancer. The initial experience with nephroureterectomy is encouraging. Laparoscopic radical prostatectomy is rapidly becoming the standard in Europe and is the procedure of choice in many centers in the United States.
CONCLUSIONS: When following the open oncologic principles for the surgical treatment of malignancies, laparoscopy offers similar oncologic clinical outcomes, less morbidity, improved operative precision, and reduced convalescence time.