title: Robot-assisted Partial Nephrectomy for Endophytic Tumors.
abstract: Robot-assisted partial nephrectomy (RAPN) has gained increasing popularity in the management of renal masses due to its technical feasibility and shorter learning curve with superior perioperative outcomes compared to laparoscopic partial nephrectomy (LPN). Given the cumulation of surgical experience on RAPN, the indication for RAPN has been extended to more challenging, complex cases, such as hilar or endophytic tumors. Renal masses that are completely endophytic can be very challenging to surgeons. These cases are associated with poor recognition of mass extension, higher risk of inadvertent vascular, or pelvicalyceal system injury. As a result, this can lead to potential positive surgical margin, difficulty in performing renorrhaphy as well as higher perioperative complication rates. There is few evidence of oncologic and functional outcomes of RAPN on treating endophytic masses. Therefore, the objective of this review is to critically analyze the current evidence and to provide a summary on the outcomes of RAPN for endophytic renal masses.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Urological Science Institute, College of Medicine, Yonsei University, Yonseiro 50-1, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, 120-752, South Korea. kdg070723@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Dae Keun
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Center of Minimally Invasive Urological Surgery, Medical Center, Athens, Greece. chrkom@yahoo.gr.
authors.forename: Christos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Komninos
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, NSW, Australia. lawrence.h.c.kim@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Lawrence
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Urological Science Institute, College of Medicine, Yonsei University, Yonseiro 50-1, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, 120-752, South Korea. khrha@yuhs.ac.
authors.forename: Koon Ho
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Rha
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D007680:Kidney Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D010535:Laparoscopy; D009392:Nephrectomy; D065287:Robotic Surgical Procedures; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: Endophytic mass; Nephron sparing surgery; Renal mass; Robot-assisted partial nephrectomy