Organ-preserving surgery in kidney tumours

After a survey of the international literature on organ-preserving surgery in kidney tumours, a surgical material of 12 cases is presented, in which a mean survival of 51 months has been attained. In similar cases medical treatment gave survivals of 7 months only. The factors affecting the survivals are analysed and resection in stage T1-2 is advocated on these grounds. Organ-preserving surgery is regarded as justified in stage T1N0M0, even if the other kidney is intact. The decisive importance of appropriate selection of the patients and of a meticulous surgical technique is emphasized.