2010 Volume 28 Pages 69-74
Recently, partial nephrectomy is often selected for the surgical treatment of small renal cell carcinoma (RCC) with its favorable prognosis. To determine the surgical outcomes of partial nephrectomy using a microwave tissue coagulator (MTC), we reviewed our series of 179 patients with 184 T1 RCC who underwent this procedure.
No significant deterioration of the postoperative renal function assessed by serum creatinine and creatinine clearance was observed. The 5-year and 10-year overall survival rates were 96% and 92%, respectively, and the 5-year and 10-year cause-specific survival rates were 99% and 98%, respectively, during the mean follow-up period of 54±43 months. One patient with T1a RCC showed postoperative local recurrence 2 years later.
In conclusion, non-ischemic partial nephrectomy using an MTC is a useful and safe nephron-sparing surgery and is considered as a standard procedure for stage T1a RCC in terms of the oncological outcomes and preservation of the postoperative renal function. Besides, partial nephrectomy is more likely to be indicated extendedly to patients with T1b RCC.