Kidneys with small renal masses: Can they be utilized for kidney transplantation in the era of partial nephrectomy?

OBJECTIVE

To retrospectively evaluate our database to determine our partial nephrectomy and radical nephrectomy rates and to see percentage of the discarded kidneys which were suitable for transplantation after radical nephrectomy.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Patients who underwent radical or partial nephrectomy between January 2000 and December 2016 were identified. Only stage I tumors according to tumor, node, metastasis classification were included in this review. Tumor size, location, proximity to renal collecting system and hilum were considered while deciding the suitability of a kidney for transplantation.

RESULTS

A statistically significant gradual increase in the number of patients treated with partial nephrectomy was observed (p=0.00001). Only 17 out of 181 kidneys with a tumor size smaller than 3 cm could be an appropriate candidate for a renal transplantation if they were to be transplanted.

CONCLUSION

Exact number of the discarded kidneys with small renal masses which can be used for kidney transplantation should be determined by large scale studies. A national or governmental policy may only be developed to utilize these discarded organs after the magnitude of the wasted kidneys can be determined.