PARENCHYMA-SPARING SURGERY FOR RENAL TUMORS - EXPERIENCES IN OVER 120 PATIENTS

Between 1969 und 1989 conservative surgery for kidney tumors was performed in 123 patients. In 49 patients there was an imperative indication for a parenchyma-sparing operation because nephrectomy would have made dialysis obligatory. Thirty-five of these 49 patients show no signs of tumor progression after a mean follow-up of 4.5 years. Known metastases were present in 3 of 6 patients who died as a result of their tumors. In two patients there was a recurrence after 1 and 5 years, respectively, requiring a second organ-preserving operation. In one further patient we suspect that multiple small tumor lesions may be present 2 years after the first operation. In 74 patients with a healthy contralateral kidney the tumor was enucleated by choice (elective indication). Sixty-eight of these 74 patients show no signs of tumor progression after a mean follow-up period of 3.3 years. One patient died from tumor metastases. Two patients had tumor recurrence, requiring nephrectomy and enucleation, respectively. Fifty-seven enucleated tumors were available for image analysis DNA cytometry. Only the two patients with a hypertriploid tumor died from their cancer.