Background: The prognostic value of pre-treatment platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) in patients with urothelial carcinoma (UC) remains controversial. Therefore, this meta-analysis aimed to identify the prognostic impact of PLR on UC. Methods: The PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library databases were systematically searched. Hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were used to summarize the correlations between PLR and overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), disease-free survival (DFS), and cancer-specific survival (CSS). Odds ratios (ORs) with 95% CIs were used to measure the association between PLR and tumor clinicopathological factors. Results: The meta-analysis included 15 studies published from 2015 to 2019 with a total of 5354 patients. Overall, a high PLR was correlated to poorer PFS (HR = 1.81, 95% CI 1.28-2.56, p = 0.001) and DFS (HR = 1.09, 95% CI 1.31-2.16, p < 0.001) but not poor OS (HR = 1.23, 95% CI 0.95-1.59, p = 0.124) or CSS (HR = 1.000, 95% CI 0.998-1.002, p = 0.919) in UC. In addition, an elevated PLR was correlated with patient age > 65 years (OR = 1.72, 95% CI 1.25-2.38, p = 0.001) and hypertension (OR = 1.48, 95% CI 1.01-2.18, p = 0.046). However, no significant association was observed between PLR and sex (OR = 0.79, 95% CI 0.56-1.14, p = 0.206) or diabetes (OR = 1.29, 95% CI 0.77-2.15, p = 0.333). Conclusions: Our results demonstrated a significant correlation between elevated PLR and poor prognosis in UC. The prognostic role of PLR may help guide the management and prognostication of UC patients.

Background Endoscopic management of low risk upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC) may be considered in select clinical scenarios, which allows sparing the morbidity of radical nephroureterectomy while achieving acceptable oncological outcomes and preservation of kidney function. Herein, we present a case with UTUC in a solitary kidney managed with 532 nm laser vaporization through a percutaneous approach. Case presentation The patient in this video (Additional file 1) is an 85-year-old woman who presented with a bulky tumor in the collecting system of a congenital solitary left kidney, which was a biopsy proven low grade urothelial carcinoma. Prior to the procedure, a lower pole percutaneous nephrostomy tube was successfully placed under sedation by Interventional Radiology. The procedure was done in a prone split leg position. The mass, which was predominantly localized to the renal pelvis was efficiently vaporized with the 532 nm laser in a systematic manner with continuous irrigation of normal saline through the cystoscope. The patient was discharged home on postoperative day 2 with the nephroureterostomy catheter open to drainage. This catheter was subsequently clamped and removed two weeks later without complications. Follow up uretroscopy showed excellent treatment response and the patient remains well without complications. Conclusion This case report details the potential utility of 532 nm laser vaporization of UTUC, however, ongoing studies are required to demonstrate peri-operative safety and durable oncologic efficacy.