Outcomes of extracorporeal partial nephrectomy in patients with malignant tumors: a retrospective and prospective study

Abstract

Aim. To establish the criteria of selection for extracorporeal partial nephrectomy (EPN) among patients with malignant tumors involving renal parenchyma.
 Materials and methods. The study included data of 34 patients undergone 36 EPNs (2 [5.8%] bilateral) for absolute indications in 32 (94.2%) and relative indications – in 2 (5.8%) cases. The median age of the patients was 49 (31–61) years, and 24 (70.6%) were males. 33 (97.1%) patients were diagnosed with renal cell carcinoma, 1 (2.9%) – with primary retroperitoneal leiomyosarcoma involving a solitary kidney. No regional metastases were detected in any patients; 2 patients were diagnosed with solitary metastases in the adrenal gland. In all patients EPN was performed (2 [5.8%] – with adrenalectomy); the surgery was completed in 35 (97.2%) patients. No additional anti-tumor treatment was administered in any patient. The median follow-up was 65.6 months.
 Results. The median surgery time was 674 (360–870) min, and the median blood loss was 2100 (500–7000) mL. The rate of postoperative complications of EPN was 82.9% (30/35), including 48.6% (17/35) of grade 1–4 and 8.6% (3/35) of grade 5 complications. Severe acute kidney injury was reported in 68.0% (25/33) of patients with completed EPN. Renal replacement therapy was required in 45.5% (15/33) of cases. The rate of postoperative autograft loss was 17.1% (7/35). One patient received intermittent hemodialysis (7 years after EPN). 5-year overall survival of 33 patients with completed EPN was 64.4%; the 5-year specific and disease-free survival of patients with renal cell carcinoma was 85.5% and 54.3%, respectively, and 5-year hemodialysis-free survival in patients discharged with autograft was 76.2%.
 Conclusion. EPN is indicated only for carefully selected patients with absolute indications for organ-preserving treatment, with massive multifocal centrally located malignant tumors in the renal parenchyma, the radical removal of which in situ is technically impossible.