[Partial kidney resection in renal cell carcinoma].

In 18 patients with renal cell carcinoma in anatomical or functional single kidneys, with limited renal function or bilateral tumors, partial renal resection was absolutely indicated to preserve renal function. In 17 patients with small peripheral tumors and intact contralateral kidney, partial renal resection was performed electively. One patient of each group died during postoperative care. During follow-up, 4 patients with absolute indication for partial renal resection showed progression of the disease. Three developed distant metastases, and in one patient local relapse with infiltration of the inferior cava vein occurred. These 4 patients had had a bilateral synchronous or asynchronous stage pT2 or pT3 renal cell carcinoma and died from the neoplasm within 10-36 months postoperatively. 13 of 18 patients with absolute indication remained tumorfree during a median follow-up period of 57 months. Partial renal resection saved 15 of these 17 patients from dialysis. Sixteen of 17 patients in whom partial renal resection was performed electively remained tumorfree during a median follow-up period of 28 months. The results suggest that, given an absolute indication to prevent dialysis, partial renal resection should be performed whenever technically possible. In patients with small peripherally located tumors and intact contralateral kidney, partial renal resection as an elective procedure must be considered a genuine alternative to radical nephrectomy.