Metastatic renal cell carcinoma of bone: indications and technique of surgical intervention

We describe the efficacy of surgical excision of metastatic renal cell carcinoma of bone for achieving local tumor control, pain control and functional outcome with emphasis on the indications and techniques of surgical intervention as well as oncological outcome.

Between 1980 and 1997 we performed surgery on 45 patients (56 lesions) with metastatic renal cell carcinoma of bone. Indications for surgery were solitary bone metastasis, intractable pain, or impending or present pathological fracture. Surgery involved wide excision in 29 cases, marginal excision with adjunctive liquid nitrogen in 25 and amputation in 2.

None of the patients had significant bleeding intraoperatively. Mean hospital stay was 9.8 days, during which there was no flap necrosis, deep wound infection, nerve palsy or thromboembolic complication. Postoperatively pain was significantly relieved in 91% of patients, while 89% achieved a good to excellent functional outcome, and 94% with metastatic lesions of the pelvic girdle and lower extremities were ambulatory. Local recurrence developed in only 4 of the 56 lesions (7.1%), including 3 after marginal resection. Survival was more than 2 years in 22 patients (49%) and more than 3 in 17 (38%).

Surgical excision is safe and reliable for restoring mechanical bone stability, relieving pain and providing good function in most patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma who meet the criteria for surgical intervention. Relatively prolonged survival in these cases justifies considering surgical intervention when feasible.