Ureteroscopic evaluation and treatment of benign essential hematuria: a systematic review

INTRODUCTION The advent of ureteroscopy has revolutionized the treatment many urologic diseases, including benign essential hematuria. This systematic review examines the treatment of benign essential hematuria (BEH) with ureteroscopic interventions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We performed a systematic review of the literature from 1977 to May 2020. We included studies that evaluated the use of ureteroscopy to diagnose or treat BEH. Demographics, follow up, findings, treatment method and success rate were extracted from each identified paper. Quality analysis was performed independently by both authors. RESULTS: Our search resulted in 587 articles. Fifteen of these studies met inclusion criteria and were included in the final analysis. No randomized controlled trials were found. All 15 studies were case series. Nine studies were graded as good, five as fair, and one as poor. Follow up ranged from 2 to 108 months. A total of 307 patients underwent ureteroscopy for suspected BEH; 223 (73%) were diagnosed with a discrete lesion, 33 (11%) with a diffuse lesion, and 44 (14%) had no lesions seen on ureteroscopy. Of those diagnosed with discrete lesions, the most common was minute venous ruptures (35%), followed by hemangiomas (26%). Ureteroscopic treatment successfully relieved the hematuria and symptoms in most patients, and was more successful in those treated for discrete lesion (115/120, 96%) than diffuse (10/19, 53%). CONCLUSIONS: Ureteroscopic treatment of BEH yields excellent outcomes. In this systematic review, 96% of patients with discrete lesions and 53% of patients with diffuse lesions had resolution of their hematuria after ureteroscopic interventions.