Patterns of Tumor Recurrence after Nephron Sparing Surgery for Renal Cell Carcinoma

Lee, Jinhyung; Chung, Han; Hong, Jun Hyuk; Chung, Jin Soo; Park, Ro Jung; Ahn, Hanjong; Kim, Choung Soo

Abstract

PURPOSE: We evaluated patterns of tumor recurrence after nephron sparing surgery for sporadic renal cell carcinoma
MATERIALS AND METHODS
From December 1992 to October 1997, 20 patients(21 renal units) underwent nephron sparing surgery(partial nephrectomy, wedge resection, enucleation) for sporadic renal cell carcinoma at our department. Mean postoperative followup period was 25.4+/-0.3 months. All patients were evaluated with a medical history, physical examination, blood chemistry, chest x-ray, abdominal CT every 6 months. The clinical course and outcome for patients who had recurrence after nephron sparing surgery were reviewed retrospectively. We also reviewed 122 patients who underwent radical nephrectomy at the same period for patterns of tumor recurrence.
RESULTS
Renal cell carcinoma were recurred after nephron sparing surgery in 3 patients (15%, 3/21 renal units:14.2%). Local tumor recurrence with(1) or without(1) metastatic disease developed in 2 patients(10%). Metastatic disease without local tumor recurrence developed in 1 patient(5%). One patient with only local recurrence had positive resection margin. Initial pathological tumor stage and period to tumor recurrence were T3a and 4 months for patient with local recurrence, T2 and 10 months for patient with local recurrence and brain metastasis, T2 and 12 months for patient with lung metastasis without local recurrence. Renal cell carcinoma recurred after radical nephrectomy in 8 patients(6.6%). Local recurrence was none and all recurrent tumors were distant metastasis.
CONCLUSIONS
The incidence of metastatic disease after nephron sparing surgery for renal cell carcinoma was not different from that occurring after radical nephrectomy but the incidence of local tumor recurrence after nephron sparing surgery was greater than that occurring after radical nephrectomy. Nephron sparing surgery must be done with enough negative resection margin.