Full kidney removal is not always the best treatment for small renal tumors

Full kidney removal is not always the best treatment for small renal tumors and could lead to chronic kidney disease and increased risk of cardiovascular disease.

Nephron-sparing treatments, such as partial nephrectomy, thermal ablation and active surveillance, minimize these risks and are viable options for patients with early-stage (T1a) kidney tumors, according to a new clinical guideline issued by the American Urological Association (AUA). The guideline was released on Tuesday, April 28, 2009 during the Association's Annual Scientific Meeting in Chicago. This is the first time that the AUA has released official guidance on managing patients with early-stage renal masses. Guideline Panel Chair Steven C. Campbell, MD, PhD, will present the guideline to the media on April 28, 2009 at 12:30 p.m. in the AUA Press Suite, located at the Hyatt Regency McCormick in Chicago.

Kidney cancer is the most lethal of the commonly diagnosed urologic cancers. Detection of clinical stage 1 (<7.0 cm) renal masses has increased in frequency (more than 50,000 people are diagnosed each year), and is now a common clinical scenario for the practicing urologist. It was previously believed that all kidney tumors, regardless of size or aggressiveness, were best managed by radical nephrectomy (complete removal of the affected kidney). However, increased strain on the remaining kidney can lead to chronic kidney disease and predispose patients to certain metabolic complications, including an increased risk of cardiovascular events. Experts assert that nephron-sparing approaches can minimize morbidity while at the same time providing effective cancer control.

In preparing the guideline, the Panel assessed the efficacy of the following major treatment modalities:

Nephron-sparing and Radical Nephrectomy: Nephron-sparing surgery should be considered for all patients with a clinical T1 renal mass, presuming adequate oncological control can be achieved. Radical nephrectomy is still a viable option when necessary based on tumor size, location or radiographic appearance if nephron-sparing surgery is deemed unadvisable. A laparoscopic approach to radical nephrectomy is now an established standard because it is associated with a more rapid recovery than an open approach.

Partial Nephrectomy: Surgical excision by partial nephrectomy is a reference standard for the management of clinical T1 renal masses, whether for imperative or elective indications, given the importance of renal function and avoidance of chronic kidney disease. In general, open partial nephrectomy is preferred for complex cases.

Thermal Ablation: Thermal ablation (cryoablation or radiofrequency ablation), performed either percutaneously or laparoscopically, is an available treatment option for the patient at high surgical risk who wants active treatment and accepts the need for long-term surveillance. Counseling about thermal ablation should include a balanced discussion of the increased risk of local recurrence when compared to surgical excision, the potential need for reintervention, the lack of well-proven radiographic parameters for success, the potential for difficult surgical salvage if tumor progression is found and the substantial limitations of the current thermal ablation literature. Larger tumors (>3.5 cm) and those with irregular shape or infiltrative appearance may be associated with increased risk of recurrence when managed with thermal ablation.

Active Surveillance: Active surveillance is a reasonable option for the management of localized renal masses that should be discussed with all patients and should be a primary consideration for patients with decreased life expectancy or extensive comorbidities that would increase the risks of intervention. However, more aggressive or larger tumors (>3 to 4 cm) should be managed in a proactive manner, if possible.

The Guideline Panel also addressed the following novel treatment modalities: high-intensity focused ultrasound, radiosurgery, microwave thermotherapy; laser interstitial thermal therapy; and pulsed cavitational ultrasound.

"Kidney tumors can be the most insidious of urologic tumors, and it is of the utmost importance that they be assessed promptly and thoroughly and that the proper treatment be offered," said Steven Campbell, MD, chair of the panel that developed the Guideline. "It is equally important to consider preserving renal function whenever possible."

The "Guideline for Management of the Clinical Stage 1 Renal Mass" will be published in the April issue of The Journal of Urology® . A press conference on the Guideline will be held on Tuesday, April 28 at 12:30 p.m. at the Hyatt Regency McCormick Place during the AUA Annual Meeting in Chicago, IL. For more information on covering the press conference or to schedule an interview, please contact Lacey Dean at [email protected].

Panel Members included: Steven C. Campbell, MD, PhD, Co-Chair; Arie Belldegrun, MD; Michael L. Blute, MD; George Kuoche Chow, MD; Ithaar H. Derweesh, MD; Jihad H. Kaouk, MD; Raymond J. Leveille, MD; Surena F. Matin, MD; Paul Russo, MD; Robert Guy Uzzo, MD; and the late Andrew C. Novick, MD.