Clarifying Surgical Options for Kidney Cancer
The trend was based on earlier studies suggesting that it’s better to save as much kidney tissue as possible, and thus preserve kidney function and reduce the likelihood of kidney failure in the long run. Many physicians inferred that a radical nephrectomy would be worse for kidney cancer patients, due to a concern that even mild or moderate dysfunction in the remaining kidney could lead to an earlier death.
However, the URMC found that losing a whole kidney to surgery does not translate into poorer outcomes. “It may be that losing kidney tissue from surgery is not the same as losing kidney function from medical diseases like diabetes or hypertension,” said Edward Messing, M.D., chair of Urology at URMC.
The journal article can be viewed at: http://www.europeanurology.com/article/S0302-2838%2813%2900659-3/abstract
To see the URMC press release: http://www.urmc.rochester.edu/news/story/index.cfm?id=3896