[Renal tumors in the elderly patient: therapeutic dilemma]

We present a retrospective study of 17 elderly patients (older than 75 years) suffering from renal carcinoma, Robson I to III. 12 patients underwent surgical treatment (radical nephrectomy). Peroperative morbidity was low (10%), mean hospitalisation period was 12 days. 60% of patients returned home directly. Mean survival was 5 years. In the 8 patients group with Robson stage I-II, only one death was due to tumor progression. 5 patients underwent a conservative approach (no treatment at all). In this group, two deaths were due to tumor progression. The difference in outcome of these two groups shows a significant advantage for a surgical approach, even in the elderly.