Laparoscopic nephrectomy for renal neoplasms

Laparoscopic nephrectomy has been shown to be an effective minimally invasive technique for treating benign renal disease requiring surgical excision. However, its application to approach renal malignancy has been limited. Herein, we report on 8 patients with renal tumor who underwent a laparoscopic nephrectomy. All kidneys were removed within Gerota's fascia, and in 3 patients with upper pole tumors, the adrenal gland was also removed en bloc. With limited follow-up of seven to thirty-five months (mean 14 months), there has been no clinical or radiographic evidence of tumor recurrence. We believe that laparoscopic radical nephrectomy with strict adherence to oncologic surgical principles is a practical, less invasive alternative in select patients with renal tumors.