Purpose: Partial nephrectomy is an effective method of treatment for renal cell carcinoma. The aim of this study is to compare our experience with international literature data
Methods: Between January 1997 and December 2000 a total of 50 renal units in 30 males and 18 women, 27 to 77 years old (mean age 60.6) with renal solid lesion of < 4 cm diameter were treated at our institution with nephron sparing surgery (NSS). The indications for NSS was elective in 43 case, imperative in 5. So far no local metastases, or vascular involvement have been encountered. The procedure was performed by 4 surgeons alternatively.
Results: In 25 patients histology revealed with clear renal cell carcinoma, one case of the chromophobe cell type, 6 papillary renal cell carcinoma, 8 oncocytomas, 8 angiomyolipomas, 1 multicystic and 1 simple cyst renal carcinoma. The complications were 1 acute reversible renal failure and 1 arteriovenous fistula. At the follow-up of 23 months no local or distant metastases were encountered. No significant differences in results were noted in regard to surgeon.
Conclusions: Our results suggest that nephron sparing surgery is as effective as radical nephrectomy for treatment of localised RCC. The reduced incidence of complications associated with a minimum complexity of the procedure and the results make this technique approachable by surgeons of different technical experience.