Extracorporeal stereotactic radiosurgery for small renal masses

Over the past decade we have witnessed both a grade and stage migration for renal cell carcinoma. This shift in clinicopathology has been met with a paradigm shift in the treatment of these renal mass lesions. This trend has evolved from laparoscopic extirpation to needle-based and now extracorporeal ablation. At the forefront of the extracorporeal, minimally invasive treatment modalities is radiosurgical ablation. Still in its inaugural phase, renal radiosurgery is devoid of any long-term studies; however, short-term studies thus far show enormous potential. Herein we present the current status of radiosurgical ablation of small renal masses.