ABSTRACT
Nephrectomy, which constitutes a gold-standard procedure for the treatment of renal-cell carcinoma (RCC), has been widely discussed in the past decade as a significant risk factor of the development of chronic kidney disease (CKD). RCC is the third most common genitourinary cancer in the United States, with an estimated more than 65,000 new cases and 14,970 deaths. The aim of this review was to precisely and comprehensively summarize the status of current knowledge in CKD risk factors after nephrectomy, the advantages of minimally invasive vs. radical nephrectomy, post-nephrectomy biomarkers of CKD, ways of post-operative CKD prevention and, therefore, better understand why various aspects of CKD after nephrectomy. The majority of current studies indicated a better long-term kidney function preservation in patients undergoing partial nephrectomy in comparison to those after radical nephrectomy. Furthermore, a nephron-sparing surgery should be a preferred first-line procedure among young patients with small renal masses. As partial nephrectomy is followed by a greater risk of adverse outcomes relative to radical nephrectomy, a potential survival benefit should always be considered especially in the elderly or patients with comorbidities.
Declaration of interest
The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties. Peer reviewers on this manuscript have no relevant financial relationships to disclose.