ABSTRACTUrology is a surgical specialty that relies heavily on the endoscopic approach for diagnosis and treatment of disease. Electrosurgical instruments have been the standard vehicle for endoscopic tumor ablation. Over the last 30 years a number of investigators have explored the use of the medical laser as either an alternative or an adjunct to standard electrosurgical techniques. The development of small caliber flexible and rigid endoscopics has facilitated access to the entire genitourinary system from the tip of the papilla to the urethral meatus. Medical lasers, by virtue of delivering energy through small flexible fibers, are ideally suited for endoscopic application. In addition, the potential for very limited and precise distribution of laser energy in targeted tissue is clinically appealing for endoscopic applications. In this article, we review the use of thermal lasers in urologic oncology.
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