Endoluminal treatment of ureteral polyps

Primary fibroepithelial ureteral polyps are rare benign tumors that commonly occur in young adults, with the highest incidence between the ages of 25-45. They are more common in males, with the right side slightly more common than the left side, mostly occurring in the upper ureter, the ureteropelvic junction, and relatively rarely in the middle and lower ureter, causing urinary tract obstruction, hydronephrosis or pus accumulation. The pathology is daisy-petal pink or off-white translucent, single or multiple, with filamentous branches dangling in the ureteral lumen, the length of the branches varying up to 20 cm, and the microscopic findings are composed of connective tissue, blood vessels, inflammatory cells, and migrating epithelial cells. The etiology of primary fibroepithelial ureteral polyps is not well understood and may be related to inflammation, injury, chronic irritation, carcinogenic substances, endocrine disorders and dysplasia. The polyps are long and may excite ureteral condylation and severe pain. The clinical manifestations are painless, intermittent meatus or microscopic hematuria, lumbago, abdominal mass, and bladder irritation symptoms. All of the preoperative ultrasound in this group had different degrees of fluid accumulation. Routine IVU can clarify the renal function status and suggest the site of ureteral obstruction. Once the kidney is not visualized or the ureter is poorly displayed, or the ureter is filling defective, retrograde contrast is required, which can further show the morphology of the lesion site. CT values are beneficial to the characterization of the lesion and differentiation from ureteral cancer, providing more information for diagnosis. Ureteroscopy for diagnosis and treatment is of great significance. Examination and biopsy can clarify the lesion site, number and nature, and play a decisive role in the choice of treatment plan. Early ureteroscopy can avoid failure of retrograde intubation or obstruction suspected to be caused by negative stones, especially suitable for those with obstruction and filling defect on retrograde imaging and difficult to distinguish benign from malignant tumor, and once the mass is found to be pink or grayish white, smooth with a narrow tip, the polyp is those with high possibility. Ureteroscopic electrocautery alone can avoid unnecessary nephroureterectomy. Ureteroscopy is especially necessary in patients with solitary kidney. If the diagnosis is not clearly made microscopically, radical ureteral cancer surgery will be performed later for malignant tumors after frozen pathological biopsy. Ureteroscopic electrocautery is the ideal method to treat this disease while dealing with ureteral strictures caused by polyps. With the wide application of ureteroscopy, ureteroscopic safety, especially mPCN, and the use of percutaneous nephrostomy for polyps in the pelvic ureteral junction and the upper ureteral segment with paracentesis electrocautery can greatly reduce the damage caused by ureteroscopy with precise and reliable results, while dealing with ureteral strictures caused by polyps. Ureteroscopy is a complete alternative to previous open surgery and has a promising future. It avoids segmental resection of the diseased ureter and possible postoperative anastomotic scar stenosis, regular postoperative review is convenient, and even if recurrence occurs, URS/PCN can be repeated, minimally invasive, and easily accepted by the patient.