Background: Management of multiple ipsilateral renal tumors is a dilemma in clinical practice. The effects of minimally invasive nephron-sparing procedures in this group of patients have not been assessed.
Objective: To evaluate the technical feasibility and outcomes of laparoscopic partial nephrectomy (LPN) and laparoscopic cryoablation (LCA) for multiple ipsilateral renal tumors.
Design, setting, and participants: Between September 1999 and December 2006, 27 patients were treated with minimally invasive nephron sparing surgery (LPN or LCA) for synchronous multiple ipsilateral renal tumors in a single operating session at our institution. Fourteen patients with 28 tumors underwent LPN, and 13 patients with 31 tumors underwent LCA as the sole treatment modality.
Intervention: Medical records were retrospectively reviewed and data were collected.
Measurements: Demographic, intraoperative, postoperative, and intermediate-term follow-up data were compared between the two groups.
Results and limitations: Patients in the LPN group had fewer tumors (2 vs. 2.4, p=0.04) and larger dominant tumor size (3.6 vs. 2.5 cm, p=0.005) in the affected kidney and lower preoperative serum creatinine levels (1 vs. 1.4 mg/dl, p=0.02). Compared to the LCA group, patients in the LPN group had greater estimated blood loss (200 vs. 125 ml, p=0.02) and longer hospital stays (90 vs. 52.3h, p=0.02). There were no open conversions, and no kidneys were lost. Complication rate, renal functional outcomes, and intermediate-term cancer-specific survival rates were similar between the two groups.
Conclusions: Both LPN and LCA are viable options for patients with multiple ipsilateral renal tumors in select patients. Renal functional outcomes, complication rates, and intermediate-term survival rates are comparable between the two groups in this small series.