ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: Indication for percutaneous-ablation (PA) is gradually expanding to renal tumors T1b (4-7cm). Few data exist on the alteration of renal functional volume (RFV) post-PA. Yet, it is a surrogate marker of post partial-nephrectomy (PN) glomerular filtration rate (GFR) impairment. The objective was to compare RFV and GFR at 1-year post-PN or PA, in this T1b population. METHODS: Patients with unifocal renal tumor≥4cm treated between 2014 and 2019 were included. Tumor, homolateral (RFVh), contralateral RFV, and total volumes were assessed by manual segmentation (3D Slicer) before and at 1 year of treatment, as was GFR. The loss of RFV, contralateral hypertrophy, and preservation of GFR were compared between both groups (PN vs. PA). RESULTS: 144 patients were included (87PN, 57PA). Preoperatively, PA group was older (74 vs. 59 years; P<0.0001), had more impaired GFR (73 vs. 85mL/min; P=0.0026) and smaller tumor volume(31.1 vs. 55.9cm3; P=0.0007) compared to PN group. At 1 year, the PN group had significantly more homolateral RFV loss (-19 vs. -14%; P=0.002), and contralateral compensatory hypertrophy (+4% vs. +1,8%; P=0.02, respectively). Total-RFV loss was similar between both (-21.7 vs. -19cm3; P=0.07). GFR preservation was better in the PN group (95.9 vs. 90.7%; P=0.03). In multivariate analysis, age and tumor size were associated with loss of RFVh. CONCLUSION: For renal tumors T1b, PN is associated with superior compensatory hypertrophy compared with PA, compensating for the higher RFVh loss, resulting in similar ΔRFV-total between both groups. The superior post-PN GFR preservation suggests that the preserved quantitative RFV factor is insufficient. Therefore, the underlying quality of the parenchyma would play a major role in postoperative GFR.
