In the 5 years since the publication of Urologic Laparoscopy by the Japanese Society of Endourology and ESWL, the field has moved on apace, particularly technologically. It is with an eye on the need to disseminate the latest information on this progress that this collection has been assembled, highlighting the most recent advances in laparoscopic urologic oncology surgery. With treatment options becoming ever more complicated, it is essential to keep the prime objectives in mind - improved quality of life for the patient, minimal complications, early convalescence, and a better end result. In our effort to cover a broad range of techniques from renal cyst decortication to robotic laparoscopic camera control, we are in debt to surgeons at the forefront of treatment, not only in Japan but worldwide, and to manufacturers who are constantly innovating in their equipment. The contributors are enthusiastic in their expertise, as shown in the quality of the material they have produced.

Urolithiasis is not only one of the most frequently encountered diseases at uro logical clinics; it is also the disorder whose treatment has shown the most rapid progress in the past decade. In that period, medicine has experienced a real revolution, characterized by minimally invasive treatments, improvement of the quality of life, and cost-effectiveness in treatment outcomes. In urology, the revolution started with the development of endoscopic retrograde treatment of urolithiasis in the upper urinary tract, which led to development of the percuta neous antegrade maneuver in the latter half of the 1970s. The most remarkable event occurred in 1982, when clinical use of extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy was introduced by the Munich group, represented by Dr. Christian Chaussy, at the 18th Congress of the International Society of Urology in San Francisco. With the advent of these new strategies, open surgery for urolithiasis has all but dis appeared. Today, with the availability of new technology and equipment, guide lines for the treatment of urolithiasis have changed in all developed countries. It is quite timely that the Meeting of International Consultation on Urolithiasis will be held in Paris in June 2001 to establish international guidelines for urolithiasis. Looking through this textbook for urolithiasis, I was greatly impressed to learn that we have already drawn up some guidelines. The book includes all the updated advances of urolithiasis presented by the most prominent and experi enced urologists from all around the world.

Urolithiasis is not only one of the most frequently encountered diseases at uro logical clinics; it is also the disorder whose treatment has shown the most rapid progress in the past decade. In that period, medicine has experienced a real revolution, characterized by minimally invasive treatments, improvement of the quality of life, and cost-effectiveness in treatment outcomes. In urology, the revolution started with the development of endoscopic retrograde treatment of urolithiasis in the upper urinary tract, which led to development of the percuta neous antegrade maneuver in the latter half of the 1970s. The most remarkable event occurred in 1982, when clinical use of extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy was introduced by the Munich group, represented by Dr. Christian Chaussy, at the 18th Congress of the International Society of Urology in San Francisco. With the advent of these new strategies, open surgery for urolithiasis has all but dis appeared. Today, with the availability of new technology and equipment, guide lines for the treatment of urolithiasis have changed in all developed countries. It is quite timely that the Meeting of International Consultation on Urolithiasis will be held in Paris in June 2001 to establish international guidelines for urolithiasis. Looking through this textbook for urolithiasis, I was greatly impressed to learn that we have already drawn up some guidelines. The book includes all the updated advances of urolithiasis presented by the most prominent and experi enced urologists from all around the world.

In the 5 years since the publication of Urologic Laparoscopy by the Japanese Society of Endourology and ESWL, the field has moved on apace, particularly technologically. It is with an eye on the need to disseminate the latest information on this progress that this collection has been assembled, highlighting the most recent advances in laparoscopic urologic oncology surgery. With treatment options becoming ever more complicated, it is essential to keep the prime objectives in mind - improved quality of life for the patient, minimal complications, early convalescence, and a better end result. In our effort to cover a broad range of techniques from renal cyst decortication to robotic laparoscopic camera control, we are in debt to surgeons at the forefront of treatment, not only in Japan but worldwide, and to manufacturers who are constantly innovating in their equipment. The contributors are enthusiastic in their expertise, as shown in the quality of the material they have produced.