OBJECTIVES: Upper urinary tract transitional cell carcinoma (UUT-TCC) is a rare disease. Open nephroure-terectomy remains the gold standard for surgical treat-ment. We aim to evaluate the standing of novel surgical treatment in UUT-TCC. METHODS: Extensive review of available literature on UUT-TCC, with emphasis in surgical treatment. English me-dical literature available in PubMed, Ovid, EMBASE y Science Direct was employed for the study.RESULTADOS: Laparoscopic nephroureterectomy, ureteroscopy and percutaneous treatment are the available surgical options that based on adequate patient selection offer acceptable cancer control. CONCLUSIONES: Indications for the treatment of UTTCC are expanding and this allows clinicians to tailor treatment while preserving oncological results.