Prognostic indicators of pulmonary metastasis in patients with renal cell carcinoma who have undergone radical nephrectomy

The aim of the present study was to validate prognostic indicators of pulmonary metastasis in patients with renal cell carcinoma (RCC) that have undergone nephrectomy treatment. The data from 356 patients who underwent nephrectomy were investigated and subsequently divided into 2 groups, according to the pulmonary metastasis status. The risk factors for pulmonary metastasis were examined in all patients. In the subgroup analysis, the risk factors were additionally verified in patients with pulmonary nodules using univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses. The status of pulmonary nodules and pulmonary metastasis were confirmed through preoperative chest radiography by two radiologists. Pulmonary metastasis was observed in 33 (9.3%) patients with a median follow-up time of 54.4 months (interquartile range, 38.8-71.8). Patients with pulmonary nodules indicated significantly increased rates of pulmonary metastasis, compared with patients without pulmonary nodules (24.2 vs. 6.1%; P