Objective : The present study evaluated the safety of tumour enucleation and the relationship of some parameters of this technique to prognosis in renal tumours. Sixteen patients, with renal confined tumour, underwent thoraco-abdominal radical nephrectomy between January 1998 and January 2001. Patients and methods : The specimens were examined in vitro and enucleated with a safety margin of 4-7 mm of normal kidney parenchyma. Meanwhile, two tumour samples were taken for flow cytometric analysis; and the remainder of the specimens were analysed histopathologically. Results : The survival time was a median of 19 months (min-max: 7-33) and follow up time was a median 16.5 months (min-max: 1-33). The expected 5-year survival rate was found to be 94%. T1, T2 and T3 tumours were found in 10, 5 and 1 patients, respectively. Distribution of tumour grade in lower stage (T1 and T2) were grade I in 8, grade II in 5, grade III in 1 and grade IV in 1 patient. The aneuploid tumour rate of these lower stage cases was 40% (6 patients) and the diploid tumour rate was 60% (9 patients) ( p >0.05). Comparison of grade and stage results was not statistically significant ( p >0.05). Comparison of aneuploid and diploid DNA content in patients with T1 and T2 tumour was not statistically significant, too ( p >0.05). The relationship between the DNA content and grade was not statistically significant ( p >0.05). Histopathological findings showed that involvement in the pseoudocapsule (in one) and peritumoural fat tissue (in another) with tumour. In 1 patient, tumour tissue was detected in the surgical margin with normal parenchyma. Conclusion : Enucleation could be performed as a localized therapy of tumours, which are peripherally localised and at a lower stage. The potential effect on survival would need to be calculated.
UroOncology
Volume 2, 2002 - Issue 4