title: Outcomes of partial nephrectomy in patients who meet percutaneous ablation criteria.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Treatment options for small renal masses include partial nephrectomy (PN), ablation and active surveillance. We sought to compare patients who met the criteria for percutaneous ablation but underwent robotic PN to the rest of our robotic PN cohort. This was done in order to detect any safety concerns and to define any risk factors that might contraindicate the use of robotic PN, an oncologically superior procedure, in patients who qualify for ablation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Our departmental renal mass registry was queried for patients who underwent robotic PN but also met criteria for percutaneous ablation. These were compared to the rest of the robotic PN cohort. Demographics, perioperative characteristics and recurrence data were compared.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overall, 321 robotic PNs were identified. Of these, 26 (8.1%) met ablation criteria. Among patient characteristics, age and BMI were similar in both groups. Among operative characteristics, estimated blood loss (EBL) and operative time were similar. Warm ischemia time was significantly less for patients who met ablation criteria (14 vs. 17 minutes, p = 0.002). Mean tumor size was smaller for patients who met ablation criteria (2.3 vs. 2.7 cm, p = 0.012). Among postoperative characteristics, complications were similar overall and when present, stratified by Clavien grade.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Robotic PN is a safe, effective treatment option for small renal masses, even in patients who meet ablation criteria. There were no recurrences in our cohort and the majority of complications were Clavien grade 1.
authors.affiliation: The James Buchanan Brady Urological Institute and Department of Urology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
authors.forename: Kelly T
authors.initials: KT
authors.lastname: Harris
authors.affiliation: The James Buchanan Brady Urological Institute and Department of Urology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
authors.forename: Mark W
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Ball
authors.affiliation: The James Buchanan Brady Urological Institute and Department of Urology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
authors.forename: Michael A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Gorin
authors.affiliation: The James Buchanan Brady Urological Institute and Department of Urology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
authors.forename: Mohamad E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Allaf
authors.affiliation: The James Buchanan Brady Urological Institute and Department of Urology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
authors.forename: Phillip M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Pierorazio
keywords: partial nephrectomy; percutaneous ablation; renal cell carcinoma; small renal mass