title: Partial nephrectomy for renal cell carcinoma with a normal opposite kidney.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The role of nephron-sparing surgery in patients with unilateral renal carcinoma and a normal opposite kidney is controversial.
  
  
  METHODS
  The number and selection criteria of patients undergoing a partial nephrectomy versus radical nephrectomy from 1979 to 1991 were compared.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 230 patients having curative surgery for unilateral renal cell carcinoma, 41 had a partial nephrectomy. The percentage of partial compared with total nephrectomies performed increased from 8% in 1979-84, to 20% in 1984-88, and 30% in 1989-91. The increased number of partial versus radical nephrectomies performed reflected an increased detection of small (3.5 cm) incidental renal tumors by radiologic imaging. The local recurrence rate was 2.4% (one patient), and the survival rate was 95% (average, 3 years).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Complete local excision of the small serendipitous renal tumor is feasible and reasonable in the patient with an otherwise normal opposite kidney.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York.
authors.forename: H W
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Herr
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002292:Carcinoma, Renal Cell / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007668:Kidney / Q000473:pathology; D007680:Kidney Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D009392:Nephrectomy / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D009519:New York City / Q000453:epidemiology