Upper tract urothelial carcinoma: Paradigm shift towards nephron sparing management.

Upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC) is relatively rare compared to urothelial carcinoma of the lower tract, comprising only 5%-10% of all urothelial cancers. Although both entities share histologic properties, UTUC tends to be more invasive at diagnosis and portend a worse prognosis, with a 5 year overall mortality of 23%. To date, the gold standard management of UTUC has been radical nephroureterectomy (RNU), with nephron sparing techniques reserved for solitary kidneys or cases where the patient could not tolerate radical surgery.