ABSTRACT
Objective: To evaluate the role of flexible ureterorenoscopy in diagnosis and treatment of lateralizing essential haematuria. Patients and Methods: Twenty-three patients suffering from unilateral haematuria were included in the study and underwent flexible ureterorenoscopy. Their age ranged from 17 to 68 years (mean age: 36 years). Unilateral gross haematuria was demonstrated cystoscopically. The patients were subjected to a careful history taking; full laboratory and radiological investigations. However; we failed to localize the cause of haematuria in the patients included in the study. This necessitated flexible ureterorenoscopy on the affected ureterorenal unit. Results: The collecting system was inspected in 21/23 patients. Discrete lesions were identified in 11 patients (haemangioma on a renal papilla in six; small vascular lesions in three; a small calculus in one and a small papillary growth in one). Non-specific abnormalities (erythema of the infundibulumor abnormal configuration in the renal papilla) were found in six patients. No lesion was detected in 4 patients. Patients with non-specific abnormalities were biopsied and coagulated. The remaining 11 patients with discrete lesions underwent laser fragmentation of the calculus; nephroureterectomy for the papillary transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) and 9 patients underwent fulguration with or without biopsies. The haematuria resolved in all patients with discrete lesions. Patients with non-specific abnormalities had a poor outcome in our series; since all had recurrent or persistent bleeding. Follow-up ranged from 6-18 months (mean 9 months). Conclusion: Flexible ureterorenoscopy can be of value in the diagnosis and treatment of lateralizing haematuria. Patients with discrete lesions respond well to endoscopic treatment (electrocoagulation)