title: The role of lymph node dissection in renal cell carcinoma.
abstract: Due to the relatively heterogeneous metastatic spread of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) through both hematogenous and lymphatogenous routes, the surgical extirpation of regional lymph nodes in the treatment of RCC has long been a controversial topic. Individual risk is dependent on multiple variables including tumor stage, grade, and histologic sub-type, in addition to many others. Controversy exists over whether lymph node dissection (LND) simply provides improved staging or whether removal of pathologic nodes offers a therapeutic advantage. Herein, we evaluate the available data regarding the use of LND in the treatment of RCC. While we believe that LND may provide an opportunity for cure in a select group of patients, there are many variables to consider when determining its applicability to an individual patient.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Blvd, Unit 1373, Houston, TX 77030, USA. bfchapin@mdanderson.org
authors.forename: Brian F
authors.initials: BF
authors.lastname: Chapin
authors.forename: Scott E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Delacroix
authors.forename: Christopher G
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Wood
mesh_terms: D002292:Carcinoma, Renal Cell / Q000473:pathology / Q000556:secondary* / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007680:Kidney Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D008197:Lymph Node Excision / Q000379:methods* / Q000401:mortality; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D009392:Nephrectomy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012189:Retrospective Studies