Nephron sparing surgery for renal cell carcinoma in von Hippel-Lindau disease.

Abstract

We evaluated the technical feasibility and followup outcomes of a nephron sparing operation for localized renal cell carcinoma and von Hippel-Lindau disease. Our 5 patients underwent initial nephron sparing surgery followed by serial computerized tomography. All but 1 renal lesion was resected in 9 initial nephron sparing operations. Postoperative computerized tomography revealed 35 lesions of which 8 had enlarged. Four patients underwent secondary renal surgery and adequate renal function was preserved. Even with the high risk of local recurrence nephron sparing surgery is an appropriate approach for these patients.