Objective:To investigate the feasibility and efficacy of retroperitoneal laparoscopy combined with lower abdominal incisions in the surgical treatment of upper urinary tract urothelial cell carcinoma.Methods:The clinical data of 52 patients with renal pelvic and ureteral cancer, who received radical nephrectomy using the retroperitoneal laparoscopy combined with a lower abdomen incision approach in Hubei Provincial General Hospital of Armed Police Force from April 2005 to December 2016, were retrospectively analyzed. All 52 patients had unilateral renal pelvic and ureteral cancer but with no lymph nodes or distant metastasis. During general anesthesia in a healthy side-lying position, patients underwent retroperitoneal laparoscopic radical nephrectomy. The affected ureter was clamped but not disconnected. Renal blood vessels were clamped with Hem-o-lock clips. Renal arteries and veins were cut off. Then the kidney was completely isolated. Three laparoscopic incisions were sutured. After taking the patients to be in the supine position, a 5-6 cm-long incision was made in the lower abdomen on the affected side. The lower ureter was dissociated from the bladder. A 1.5 cm-long bladder wall was dissected in the sleeve manner. The affected kidney and ureter were completely removed from the lower abdomen through the made small incision. A rubber drainage tube was inserted in another incision made at the lower end of the prior incision.Results:Operations were successful in all 52 cases. No cases were converted to open surgery, had blood transfused, or needed secondary surgery. There were no complications such as urinary leakage, incision infection, or massive bleeding. Postoperative pathology reported 41 cases of renal urothelial carcinoma and 11 cases of ureteral urothelial carcinoma. Forty-eight patients provided follow-up data, and four did not because of being lost. One patient died of a cardiovascular accident 13 months after surgery. Cystoscopy revealed that 47 cases had no bladder tumor, local or distant metastasis.Conclusion:The retroperitoneal laparoscopy combined with lower abdominal incisions approach is suitable for radical resection of renal pelvic or ureteral cancer owing to ease in operation, few requirements for surgical instruments, minimal invasion, and rapid recovery.