[Surgical treatment for renal cell carcinoma]

Abstract

Renal cell carcinoma is chemoresistent and radio-therapy so that surgical tumour excision of the tumor is the only potentially curative option, either as radical nephrectomy or as nephron sparing surgery. As a result of continuously improving radiological imaging modalities, renal tumours are nowadays detected incidentally at an asymptomatic stage in up to 75 %. The ten-year cancer-specific survival for organ-confined disease (T1, T2) after R0-excision is > 90 %. Moreover, locally extending renal tumours (T3) can be treated successfully with five-year survival rates of > 65 %. In case of tumours in a single kidney or synchronous bilateral tumours, good functional and oncological long-term results can be achieved by nephron sparing surgery (imperative indication). T1 renal cell cancer (tumour size < 7 cm ) should be treated by nephron sparing surgery, even if the contralateral kidney is normal, because since this nephron-sparing approach ensures maximal renal reserve in the long term follow up. Minimally invasive techniques offer treatment also for multi-morbide patients. Which approach is to be selected depends on size and location of the tumour as well as on indication (elective or imperative), age and general health of the patient and the surgeon's preference.