Laparoscopic partial versus radical nephrectomy for localized renal cell carcinoma over 4 cm

To compare the long-term clinical and oncologic outcomes of laparoscopic partial nephrectomy (LPN) and laparoscopic radical nephrectomy (LRN) in patients with renal cell carcinoma (RCC) > 4 cm.

We retrospectively reviewed the records of all patients who underwent LPN or LRN in our department from January 2012 to December 2017. Of the 151 patients who met the study selection criteria, 54 received LPN, and 97 received LRN. After propensity-score matching, 51 matched pairs were further analyzed. Data on patients' surgical data, complications, histologic data, renal function, and survival outcomes were collected and analyzed.

Compared with the LRN group, the LPN group had a longer operative time (135 min vs. 102.5 min, p = 0.001), larger intraoperative bleeding (150 ml vs. 50 ml, p < 0.001), and required longer stays in hospital (8 days vs. 6 days, p < 0.001); however, the level of ECT-GFR was superior at 3, 6, and 12 months (all p < 0.001). Similarly, a greater number of LRN patients developed CKD compared with LPN until postoperative 12 months (58.8% vs. 19.6%, p < 0.001). In patients with preoperative CKD, LPN may delay the progression of the CKD stage and even improve it when compared to LRN treatment. There were no significant differences between the two groups for OS, CSS, MFS, and PFS (p = 0.06, p = 0.30, p = 0.90, p = 0.31, respectively). The surgical method may not be a risk factor for long-term survival prognosis.

LPN preserves renal function better than LRN and has the potential value of significantly reducing the risk of postoperative CKD, but the long-term survival prognosis of patients is comparable.