Diagnosis and therapy of incidental renal cell carcinoma

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) especially incidentally found RCC has been markedly increased in the world due to development of ultrasound or computerized tomography (CT) instruments. Controversy existed on the nephron sparing treatment for incidental RCC. We have operated the incidental RCC using a technique of tumor enucleation shelling out with 5 mm normal surrounding parenchyma. It is important to demonstrate its pseudocapsule for indication of the procedure. For the purpose MRI (T2) is the most reliable method in comparison with angiography, CT and ultrasound. In 42 cases of incidental RCC, 22 cases were nephrectomized and 19 cases were enucleated. One was not operated on. In our cases there was no local recurrence, metastasis or impaired renal function for over one year. However, some problems still remain such as local recurrence (0% approximately 10%), multicentricity (7%) and residual renal function in the literature. Therefore, we propose the following 4 points for indications of tumor enucleation, (1) asymptomatic completely and incidentally, (2) < or = 4 cm in diameter, (3) stage 1 (T1, T2) with pseudocapsule, (4) peripheral location.