Results of radical thoraco-abdominal nephrectomy in the treatment of renal cell carcinoma.

A series of 162 cases of renal cell carcinoma treated by radical thoraco-abdominal nephrectomy is presented, together with the three, five and ten year survival. The increase in survival rate is probably due to three factors. 1) Early ligation of the renal artery and vein. 2) Complete removal of the perinephric envelope. 3) Surgical extirpation of the lymphatic field. Prognosis in renal cell carcinoma is directly related to the stage and grade of the tumour and as yet nephrectomy offers the only hope of cure.