Partial nephrectomy: contemporary outcomes, candidate selection, and surgical approach

Localized kidney cancer is ideally managed with surgical extirpation. Historically renal cell carcinoma has been treated with radical nephrectomy, but partial nephrectomy has become increasingly used because of a growing body of evidence demonstrating equivalent oncologic control and a potential benefit in overall survival. In this article, the authors demonstrate that partial nephrectomy carries excellent oncologic efficacy. They additionally review the growing indications for partial nephrectomy and factors influencing candidate selection. The authors also compare the relative outcomes of open and minimally invasive techniques. Several factors influence outcome, and surgeon experience should dictate the choice of technique.