Minimally Invasive Nephron Sparing Management for Renal Tumors in Solitary Kidneys

PurposeWe present a large series of minimally invasive nephron sparing surgery outcomes in solitary kidneys with a focus on treatment selection criteria, and oncological and functional outcomes.Materials and MethodsOf 1,019 patients who underwent minimally invasive nephron sparing surgery since September 1997 at our institution 36, 36 and 29 underwent laparoscopic partial nephrectomy, cryoablation and radio frequency ablation, respectively, for tumors in a solitary kidney. Data, including patient and tumor characteristics, surgery details, complications, and postoperative renal function and intermediate term oncological outcomes in each patient, were obtained by telephone contact or from charts. The 3 groups were compared for perioperative, functional and oncological outcomes.ResultsOn multivariate analysis tumor size, aspect and remnant kidney status were independent predictors of treatment selection. Cancer specific and overall survival at 2 years was 100% and 91.2% for laparoscopic partial nephrectomy, 88.5% and 88.5% for cryoablation, and 83.9% and 83.9% for radio frequency ablation, respectively. Disease-free survival was significantly better for laparoscopic partial nephrectomy than for cryoablation and radio frequency ablation (100% vs 69.6% and 33.2%, respectively, p <0.0001). The mean estimated glomerular filtration rate change for laparoscopic partial nephrectomy, cryoablation and radio frequency ablation of 17, 3 and 7 ml per minute per 1.73 m2 reflected a 26%, 6% and 13% decrease from baseline, respectively, which was statistically significant (p = 0.0016).ConclusionsLaparoscopic partial nephrectomy and probe ablative procedures can be safely and efficiently done for renal tumor in patients with a solitary kidney. Intermediate term oncological outcomes are superior for laparoscopic partial nephrectomy despite somewhat poorer renal function outcomes than those of cryoablation and radio frequency ablation.