Introduction and objectives: Renal Cell Carcinoma (RCC) represents 3% of all neoplasm. The growing incidental diagnosis of small renal tumor has allowed the application of nephron sparing surgery (NSS), even in those cases with a normal contralateral kidney. We present the results of NSS at our center in the last decade.
Material and methods: A retrospective analysis of all NSS that were made at our center in cases of renal masses. Difference is made between elective surgery (tumors less than 4 cm with a normal contralateral kidney) and obligatory surgery (all other cases).
Results: From 1990 since 2000 a total of 65 NSS were made from a total of 436 surgeries for renal tumors (14.9%). In 22 patients NSS was obligatory, while in 43 was elective. Mean (SD) age was 59.1 years (+/- 11.7), mean tumor size 3.4 cm (+/- 1.4), mean hospital staying was 9.2 days (+/- 7). Renal normothermic ischaemia was use during surgery in all cases, with a mean ischaemic time of 25.7 min. Nine tumors (13.8%) were benign. Morbidity: 10.8%. Mortality: 1.5%. The cancer specific survival at 36 months of follow-up (mean 37.4) is 98.4% and global survival is 90.3%.
Conclusions: Nephron Sparing Surgery is a valid alternative in the treatment of RCC, specially for tumors less than 4 cm in diameter and having a normal contralateral kidney; NSS is also an effective technique for patients bearing renal tumors in a solitary kidney.