AUA Guideline: Full Kidney Removal Not Necessary for All Kidney Tumors

/PRNewswire/ -- Radical nephrectomy (complete removal of the affected kidney) is not the best treatment for most small kidney tumors because it puts patients at risk for chronic kidney disease and cardiovascular disease. Nephron-sparing treatments, such as partial nephrectomy, thermal ablation and active surveillance, minimize these risks and are viable options for patients with early-stage kidney tumors, according to a new clinical guideline issued by the American Urological Association (AUA). The guideline was released on Tuesday, April 28, 2009 during the Association's Annual Scientific Meeting in Chicago.

This is the first time that the AUA has released official guidelines for the management of patients with kidney cancer. This guideline is focused on the management of patients with early-stage renal masses, which has become controversial in the past few years. Guideline Panel Co-Chair Steven C. Campbell, MD, PhD, will present the guideline to the media on April 28, 2009 at 12:30 p.m. in the AUA Press Suite, located at the Hyatt Regency McCormick in Chicago.

Detection of clinical stage 1 (<7.0>3 to 4 cm) should be managed in a proactive manner, if possible.

Radical Nephrectomy: Radical nephrectomy is still occasionally required. A laparoscopic approach should be considered because it is associated with a more rapid recovery profile.

The Guideline Panel also addressed the following novel treatment modalities: high-intensity focused ultrasound, radiosurgery, microwave thermotherapy; laser interstitial thermal therapy; and pulsed cavitational ultrasound.

The "Guideline for Management of the Clinical Stage 1 Renal Mass" will be published in The Journal of Urology(R) later this year. A press conference on the Guideline will be held on April 28, 2009 at 12:30 p.m. at the Hyatt Regency McCormick Place during the AUA Annual Meeting in Chicago, IL. For more information on covering the press conference or to schedule an interview, please contact Lacey Dean at LDean@AUAnet.org.

Panel Members included: Steven C. Campbell, MD, PhD, Co-Chair; Arie Belldegrun, MD; Michael L. Blute, MD; George Kuoche Chow, MD; Ithaar H. Derweesh, MD; Jihad H. Kaouk, MD; Raymond J. Leveille, MD; Surena F. Matin, MD; Paul Russo, MD; Robert Guy Uzzo, MD; and the late Andrew C. Novick, MD.

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