Abstract
Objective. The aim of the study was to analyse oncological outcomes of patients with renal cell carcinoma (RCC) up to 4 cm in diameter. Material and methods. A consecutive series of 396 patients with small RCC was analysed. Tumours were stratified by diameter into three groups: 2 cm (n = 68) for tumours up to 2 cm, 3 cm (n = 172) for tumours between 2.1 and 3.0 cm, and 4 cm (n = 156) for tumours between 3.1 and 4.0 cm in diameter. Results. Tumour stages were distributed into pT1a in 95.6%, 91.9% and 87.0% and into pT3 in 4.4%, 8.1% and 13.0% for the 2 cm, 3 cm and 4 cm groups, respectively. Metastases at the time of diagnosis were found in 2.9% (n = 2), 7.5% (n = 13) and 9.1% (n = 14) of patients in the 2 cm, 3 cm and 4 cm groups, respectively. The tumour-specific survival was 100%, 96.9% and 94.6% at 1 year, 97.5%, 90.3% and 87.5% at 5 years and 97.5%, 87.3% and 84.1% at 10 years for the 2 cm, 3 cm and 4 cm groups, respectively (p < 0.05). Conclusions. Negative prognostic features as well as worse oncological outcome increase with tumour diameter above 2 cm. These data have important implications when considering active surveillance of small renal tumours.
Acknowledgement
We gratefully appreciate the excellent help of Ms H. Jakobi, who manages our prospective tumour database.
Declaration of interest: The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.