Surgery for upper urinary tract urothelial cancer (UTUC)

Surgery is usually the main treatment for upper urinary tract urothelial cancer (UTUC) that has not spread to distant parts of the body.

Surgery may be open or keyhole (laparoscopic).

Open surgery

Keyhole (laparoscopic) surgery

During keyhole surgery, the surgeon makes 3 to 5 small cuts. They pass a laparoscope through one of the cuts. A laparoscope is a thin tube with a light and camera on the end. It sends video images to a monitor. Then the surgeon passes special surgical tools through the other cuts to remove the cancer.

The surgeon may use a specialised machine to help with keyhole surgery. There are instruments attached to the machine, which the surgeon controls. This is called robot-assisted surgery. It makes it possible for the surgeon to do very precise surgery.

Recovery from keyhole surgery is usually quicker than recovery from open surgery. This is because the wounds are smaller.

Some types of keyhole surgery may only be available at larger cancer centres. This means you may have to travel for your treatment. Your surgeon will talk to you about which type of surgery is best for you.

See also

• Upper urinary tract urothelial cancer UTUC