((Ivanhoe Newswire) – Patients with kidney tumors often have surgery to remove the tumors or the entire kidney. A new study finds those who have just the tumors removed and leave the kidney in tact have a better overall survival.

The research was headed by doctors from Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. The research team reviewed 649 patients who underwent either a partial or radical nephrectomy for a kidney tumor smaller than 4 centimeters. A partial nephrectomy is when a surgeon removes only the tumor. A radical nephrectomy is when a surgeon removes the entire kidney along with the adrenal gland next to the kidney and adjacent lymph nodes.
 

Study authors report in the 327 patients younger than 65 years old, radical nephrectomy was significantly associated with death from any cause compared with partial nephrectomy. Ten year survival was 82 percent for those who had a radical surgery and 93 percent for those who had only the tumor removed.

Researchers point out that as kidney function fails in patients, other disease risks increase such as heart attacks. While the survival rates from the surgery and cancer is excellent, it’s the consequences later that can lead to long term health consequences. Right now only 25 percent of patients are treated with a partial nephrectomy in the U.S. and this raises a concern that needs to be looked at, according to researchers.

SOURCE: Journal of Urology, 2008;