Analysis of the evolution of surgery for the treatment of primary renal tumors during the period 2006-2010: report of 458 consecutive surgeries

Most of small renal masses are accessible to conservative surgery, which has proved to maintain carcinological outcome, with a lower cardiovascular morbidity, hospital stay and mortality. Current international guidelines for the management of renal tumours recommend that partial nephrectomy be the new standard of treatment of T1 tumours. In this study, the authors assessed evolutive trends in the surgical management of renal tumours in the period 2006 to 2010 in a university hospital. Retrospective analysis of a cohort of 446 consecutive patients treated for renal tumour between 2006 and 2010. Overall, 458 surgeries were performed, divided in 184 (40.2%) partial nephrectomy and 274 (49.8%) radical nephrectomy. During the study period, the number of partial nephrectomy increased significantly, with a mean annual increase rate of 10% in T1a tumours (P=0.002). We also observed a non significant increasing trend for conservative surgery in T1b tumours. Furthermore, the number of laparoscopic partial nephrectomy increased significantly, with a mean annual increase rate of 8% (P=0.02). At the end of the study period, one in two patients, whatever the stage, was treated by partial nephrectomy. This change in practice occurred without any increase in per- and postoperative morbidity (P=0.39). Analysis of this cohort of patients operated for renal tumour between 2006 and 2010 in our university hospital did not highlight underuse of conservative surgery, taking into account the current international guidelines. This trend for more partial nephrectomy did not underscore an increase in surgical morbidity or decrease in carcinological outcome. However, the higher rate of positive surgical margins in the laparoscopic partial nephrectomy group should incite to caution.