BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: For many years, the gold standard in upper urinary tract transitional-cell carcinoma (UT-TCC) management has been nephroureterectomy with excision of the bladder cuff. Advances in endourologic instrumentation have allowed urologists to manage this malignancy. The feasibility and success of conservative measures for UT-TCC have been widely published, but there has not been an objective cost analysis performed to date. Our goal was to examine the direct costs of renal-sparing conservative measures v nephroureterectomy and subsequent chronic kidney disease (CKD) or end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Secondary analysis includes a discussion of survival and quality-of-life issues for both treatment cohorts. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Retrospective review of a cohort of patients treated at our institution with renal-sparing ureteroscopic management of UT-TCC who were followed for a minimum of 2 years. The costs per case were based on equipment, anesthesia, surgeon fees, pathologic evaluation fees, and hospital stay. ESRD and CKD costs were estimated based on published reports. RESULTS: From 1996 to 2006, 254 patients were evaluated and treated for UT-TCC at our institution. A cohort of 57 patients was examined who had a minimum follow-up period of 2 years. Renal preservation in our series approached 81%, with cancer-specific survival of 94.7%. Assuming a worst-case scenario of a solitary kidney with recurrences at each follow-up for 5 years v nephroureterectomy and dialysis for the same period, an estimated $252,272 U.S. dollars would be saved. This savings would cover the expenses of five cadaveric renal transplantations. CONCLUSIONS: Conservative endoscopic management of UT-TCC in our experience should be the gold standard management for low-grade and superficial-stage disease. From a cost perspective, renal-sparing UT-TCC management is effective in reducing ESRD health care expenses.
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: For many years, the gold standard in upper urinary tract transitional-cell carcinoma (UT-TCC) management has been nephroureterectomy with excision of the bladder cuff. Advances in endourologic instrumentation have allowed urologists to manage this malignancy. The feasibility and success of conservative measures for UT-TCC have been widely published, but there has not been an objective cost analysis performed to date. Our goal was to examine the direct costs of renal-sparing conservative measures v nephroureterectomy and subsequent chronic kidney disease (CKD) or end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Secondary analysis includes a discussion of survival and quality-of-life issues for both treatment cohorts. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Retrospective review of a cohort of patients treated at our institution with renal-sparing ureteroscopic management of UT-TCC who were followed for a minimum of 2 years. The costs per case were based on equipment, anesthesia, surgeon fees, pathologic evaluation fees, and hospital stay. ESRD and CKD costs were estimated based on published reports. RESULTS: From 1996 to 2006, 254 patients were evaluated and treated for UT-TCC at our institution. A cohort of 57 patients was examined who had a minimum follow-up period of 2 years. Renal preservation in our series approached 81%, with cancer-specific survival of 94.7%. Assuming a worst-case scenario of a solitary kidney with recurrences at each follow-up for 5 years v nephroureterectomy and dialysis for the same period, an estimated $252,272 U.S. dollars would be saved. This savings would cover the expenses of five cadaveric renal transplantations. CONCLUSIONS: Conservative endoscopic management of UT-TCC in our experience should be the gold standard management for low-grade and superficial-stage disease. From a cost perspective, renal-sparing UT-TCC management is effective in reducing ESRD health care expenses.
Authors: Anil Kapoor; Christopher B Allard; Peter Black; Wassim Kassouf; Christopher Morash; Ricardo Rendon Journal: Can Urol Assoc J Date: 2013 Sep-Oct Impact factor: 1.862
Authors: Michael Metcalfe; Gavin Wagenheim; Lianchun Xiao; John Papadopoulos; Neema Navai; John W Davis; Jose A Karam; Ashish M Kamat; Christopher G Wood; Colin P Dinney; Surena F Matin Journal: J Endourol Date: 2017-07-21 Impact factor: 2.942
Authors: Rao S Mandalapu; Mesut Remzi; Theo M de Reijke; Vitaly Margulis; J Palou; A Kapoor; Ofer Yossepowitch; Jonathan Coleman; Olivier Traxer; J Kyle Anderson; James Catto; Jean de la Rosette; Timothy O'Brien; Anthony Zlotta; Surena F Matin Journal: World J Urol Date: 2016-05-27 Impact factor: 4.226
Authors: Laurent Nison; Morgan Rouprêt; Grégory Bozzini; Adil Ouzzane; François Audenet; Géraldine Pignot; Alain Ruffion; Jean-Nicolas Cornu; Sophie Hurel; Antoine Valeri; Mathieu Roumiguie; Thomas Polguer; Nicolas Hoarau; Olivier Mérigot de Treigny; Evanguelos Xylinas; Alexandre Matte; Stéphane Droupy; Pierre Olivier Fais; Aurélien Descazeaud; Pierre Colin Journal: World J Urol Date: 2012-10-16 Impact factor: 4.226