PRCC multifocality was not associated with stage, grade or histological type and it seems not to be an argument against conservative surgery. Univariate analysis of PRCC prognostic factors identified stage, grade and histological type but the latter was not retained on multivariate analysis.

Most collecting duct carcinomas are already metastatic at presentation. Because the prognosis is dismal despite radical nephrectomy, biopsy should be performed first when radiological findings are suggestive of collecting duct carcinoma. For metastatic collecting duct carcinoma radical nephrectomy alone does not seem to be useful except for palliative reasons or in the framework of new multicentric chemotherapy protocols in progress.

Nephron sparing surgery is effective and, when feasible, it need not be called into question. However, it may probably be superseded by less invasive techniques for tumors less than 20 mm diagnosed early after these techniques have been validated in long-term trials.

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