Long-term outcomes after bladder-preserving tri-modality therapy for patients with muscle-invasive bladder cancer.

PURPOSE: To evaluate trimodal conservative treatment as an alternative to radical surgery for urothelial muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC). PATIENTS AND METHODS: This retrospective study reported the carcinologic and functional results of patients (pts) presenting a cT2/T3 N0M0 operable MIBC and fit for surgery, treated by a conservative strategy. Treatment consisted of a transurethral resection (TURB) followed by concomitant bi-fractionated split-course radiochemotherapy (RCT) with 5FU-Cisplatine. A control cystoscopy was performed six weeks after the induction RCT (eq45Gy) with systematic biopsies. Patients with complete histologic response achieved RCT protocol. Salvage surgery was proposed to pts with persistent tumor. RESULTS: 313 pts (83% cT2 and 17% cT3) treated between 1988 and 2013 were included, with a median follow-up of 59 months and 67-year mean age. After the induction RCT, the histologic response rate was 83%. After five years, overall, disease-free, and functional bladder-intact survival rates were respectively 69%, 61%, and 69%, significantly better for pts in complete response after induction RCT. Late urinary and digestive toxicities were limited, with respective rates of 4% and 1.5% of grade 3 toxicity. CONCLUSION: Trimodal strategy with RCT after TURB showed interesting functional and oncologic results and should be considered as an alternative to surgery in well-selected pts.

[Primary treatment of renal cell carcinoma. Yesterday, today, tomorrow]. / Le traitement initial du cancer du rein. Hier, aujourd'hui, demain.

Renal cancer accounts for 3% of all cancers; even in 2007 the diagnosis is often too late requiring a radical nephrectomy with an overall mediocre prognosis of 70% at 5 years. Nowadays, thanks to considerable improvement in imaging technique, 60% at least of tumors are early discovered on ultrasound examination; often of moderate size and less than 4 cms in diameter, which enables a more conservative approach to treatment. 740 radical nephrectomy were carried out in NECKER Hospital between 1985 and 2000; the results were similar to those in the literature; mediocre, with 85% survival at 5 years when the tumour was confined to the kidney (grades 1 and 2); 17% in the presence of lymph node involvment. Of the 722 conservative procedures carried out between 1987 and 2008, only 386 patients operated between 1987 and 2005 are being considered here. Although follow up is limited, the results are encouraging In Keeping with the literature, our results confirm the value of conservative surgery for early tumors with diameter of less than 4 cm. Low morbidity and disease free survival were similar to the data for radical nephrectomy With the aim of maximum renal conservation, newer mini invasive procedures such as cryoablation and radiofrequency destruction of tumors have been proposed. Our experience with radiofrequency destruction is described below for 167 tumors in 123 patients. Although the short-term outcome is satisfactory, it is difficult to judge the longer-term efficacy of these relatively rarely used newer techniques. While efforts are made to achieve early diagnosis thanks to modern imaging techniques and while conservative surgery appears to be the current strategy in the multidisciplinary management of tumours, there is still a large place for radical nephrectomy by open surgery or more often via video-assisted laparoscopic surgical techniques.

[Should frozen section examination be performed systematically as part of conservative surgery for renal cell carcinoma?]. / Faut-il faire un examen extemporané systématique lors d'une chirurgie conservatrice pour carcinome à cellules rénales?

OBJECTIVE: To prospectively assess the value of frozen section examination during conservative surgery for renal cell carcinoma (RCC) in exclusively elective indications and to evaluate the reality of safety margins. MATERIAL AND METHODS: From 1997 to 2001, 220 conservative procedures for RCC were performed in our department, including 104 elective lumpectomies, 61 of which were studied prospectively. The mean age of these 61 patients was 59.4 years (range: 34.2 to 78.5). The mean tumour diameter was 32 mm (range: 12 to 50). Tumours were peripheral in 51 cases and in a juxtahilar position in 10 cases. Resection margins were evaluated macroscopically by the surgeon, and the specimen was systematically sent for frozen section examination. Incomplete margins, i.e. negative but with no safety margin, were distinguished from positive margins on the final histological examination. The thickness of the safety margins was measured on the cortical and deep extremities of the operative specimen. The mean follow-up was 78.5 months (range: 52 to 101). RESULTS: Histological types of RCC comprised conventional clear cell (n = 42), tubulopapillary (n = 17) and chromophobe (n = 2), stage pT1 (n = 57) and pT2 (n = 4), and grade 1 (n = 16), 2 (n = 35) and 3 (n = 10). No positive margins were detected. The mean thickness of the safety margin was 7 mm peripherally and 2 mm in depth with no correlation between these two values. Surgeons concluded on the presence of 51 complete margins and 10 incomplete margins versus 53 and 8 on histological examination, respectively. Frozen section examination never modified the course of the operation. All patients were alive and recurrence free at last follow-up. CONCLUSION: Macroscopic evaluation of resection margins by the surgeon is precise and usually avoids the need for frozen section. However when the margins are considered to be incomplete by the surgeon, frozen section examination is mandatory to avoid positive margins, which must remain the main objective of conservative surgery.

Low predictive accuracy of the Kattan postoperative nomogram for renal cell carcinoma recurrence in a population of French patients.

BACKGROUND: The aim of the current study was to establish the predictive accuracy of the Kattan postoperative nomogram for nonmetastatic renal cell carcinoma (RCC) by comparing predictions with actual disease recurrence in patients who underwent surgery in a single center in France. METHODS: Between 1985 and 2000, 844 patients were treated for RCC. The following data were collated: age, symptoms, histology, tumor size, grade, TNM 1997 stage, recurrence, and progression. For each patient a prognostic score (predicted probability) for recurrence-free survival (RFS) at 5 years was calculated using the Kattan nomogram. The discriminating ability of the model was assessed by Harrell's concordance index (c-index). Bootstrapping was used to assess confidence intervals. Furthermore, survival was then estimated by the Kaplan-Meier method and Cox proportional hazards regression analysis. RESULTS: In all, 565 patients (median age, 62 years) were included. At the time of the last follow-up, 81 patients had died and 101 had experienced RCC recurrence. The c-index for RFS (Kattan nomogram) was only 0.607 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.576-0.635). The 5-year RFS rate and cancer-specific survival rate were 81.5% and 84.7%, respectively. Of the 4 variables included in the nomogram, only TNM stage was associated with recurrence in a multivariate analysis (Cox analysis) (P = .022). CONCLUSIONS: There was a discrepancy between predicted RFS as estimated by the Kattan nomogram and the likelihood of being recurrence-free at 5 years according to the Cox analysis in the current population of patients. However, until new dynamic models become available clinicians may still improve their predictive ability by using the current nomogram.

[Conservative treatment of kidney cancer by cryoablation and radiofrequency]. / Traitement conservateur des cancers du rein par cryoablation et radiofréquence.

Cryoablation and radiofrequency are minimally invasive techniques allowing resection of the tumour by application of physical means (cold or heat) to the centre of the lesion, rather than strictly surgical resection. The incision is usually percutaneous but can be laparoscopic in certain indications. Indications are currently limited to exophytic renal tumours < 40 mm, situated away from structures of the hilum (vessels and renal pelvis) and gastrointestinal structures in patients > 70 years or in the context of previously operated hereditary renal carcinoma (von Hippel Lindau disease). The results of the first series are encouraging, although more contradictory for radiofrequency probably due to the heterogeneous equipment (electrodes, generator, frequency, etc.). The complication rate is low. A PHRC national multicentre randomized study is currently underway to compare the functional and oncological results of radiofrequency and conservative surgery.

[Sporadic bilateral kidney tumour: practical approach and place of conservative surgery]. / Tumeur renale bilatérale non héréditaire: attitude pratique et place de la chirurgie conservatrice.

OBJECTIVE: To study the specific features of the sporadic form of bilateral renal cell carcinoma (RCC). MATERIAL AND METHOD: Twenty-six patients presented bilateral RCC among a total of 759 patients operated for RCC in our institution between 1985 and 1998. The mean follow-up for 23 patients (3 were lost to follow-up) was 56.5 months. Actuarial survival was estimated by the Kaplan-Meier method and comparisons between the various groups were performed with a Mann-Whitney test. RESULTS: This series comprised 10 asynchronous tumours and 16 synchronous tumours. The mean diameter of synchronous tumours was significantly greater than that of asynchronous tumours (61 vs 33.5 mm). Histology revealed 16 clear cell carcinomas (CCC), 7 tubulopapillary carcinomas (TPC), 2 cases with CCC and TPC, and one bilateral oncocytoma. Malignant tumours were classified as stage T1-T2 (n=23) or T3 (n=2). TPC was more frequently bilateral than CCC (7.9% vs. 2.8%). Forty-four surgical operations (19 radical nephrectomies and 24 partial nephrectomies) were performed. The mean interval between two operations for asynchronous tumours was 85.2 months. Follow-up demonstrated 15 remissions and 6 deaths, including 5 deaths due to RCC, one local recurrence and one local recurrence with metastases. One-year specific survival was 96% and 5-year survival was 74%. Age, gender, histological type and the asynchronous or synchronous mode did not induce any significant difference on survival. CONCLUSION: The surgical approach must therefore be resolutely conservative in view of the good 5-year survival rate and the low local recurrence and metastasis rates.

Prospective study of safety margins in partial nephrectomy: intraoperative assessment and contribution of frozen section analysis.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate prospectively a healthy parenchymal safety margin during conservative surgery for renal cell carcinoma. METHODS: From 1997 to 2001, elective nephron-sparing surgery was performed through a flank incision in 61 consecutive patients (mean age 59.4 years, range 34.2 to 78.5). The mean tumor size was 32 mm (range 12 to 50). The tumor localization was juxtahilar in 10 and distant in 51. Prospective margin assessment used the following protocol. Margins were evaluated macroscopically by the surgeon, controlled by frozen section analysis, and subsequently measured during histologic examination. All patients were monitored with computed tomography scans, with a mean follow-up of 72.5 months (range 46 to 95). RESULTS: The histologic type was clear cell in 42 patients, papillary in 17, and chromophobic cell in 2. Of the 61 patients, 57 had 1997 TNM Stage pT1 and 4 had Stage pT2. The Furhman grade was grade 1 in 16, grade 2 in 35, and grade 3 in 10. No tumor margin was positive. Frozen section analysis and routine histologic examination yielded 53 complete and 8 incomplete margins compared with 51 and 10, respectively, as assessed by the surgeons. The mean peritumoral margin was 7 mm (range 4 to 10) for the cortex and 2 mm (range 0 to 5) for the deep part. No patient developed locoregional or metastatic relapse. CONCLUSIONS: No apparent relationship was observed between peritumoral margin width and the risk of disease progression, even for tumors abutting the hilum, rendering illusory a safety margin greater than 1 cm. Although the surgeons' macroscopic margin evaluations were accurate, frozen section analysis is mandatory when the margin status is in doubt. In all cases, margin negativity remains an oncologic imperative.

[Laparoscopic kidney release for refractory chyluria]. / Néphrolyse laparoscopique pour chylurie réfractaire.

Chyluria is a rare disease outside of parasite endemic zones. The treatment of severe forms is surgical. Reno-lymphatic disconnection is the reference procedure, with long-term success rates of 99%. This operation performed via a lumbar incision can also be performed by retroperitoneal or transperitoneal laparoscopy. The advantages of this minimally invasive incision are those classically reported in the literature.

[Kidney tumours: single-centre study of 810 patients. Changing features over a period of 15 years]. / Tumeurs du rein: etude monocentrique de 810 patients: evolution sur 15 ans.

OBJECTIVE: The Association Française d 'Urologie conducted a national epidemiological study in 1997. Using our database, we compared our results, up-dated the epidemiological data and evaluated the differences observed over a period of 15 years. PATIENTS AND METHODS: 844 patients operated for kidney tumour between 1985 and 2000 were analysed and 810 were included in this study. Survival analysis was performed according to the Kaplan-Meier method. Relative risks were determined by the Log-Rank test and multivariate analysis was performed with the Cox regression model. The limit of significance was 0.05. RESULTS: The mean age at the time of diagnosis was 59.6 years (range: 14.6-90.2). Most tumours were discovered incidentally by ultrasound. The mean tumour diameter was 61.7 mm (range: 20-230). The most frequent surgical operation was radical nephrectomy, but there was a tendency towards an increasing number of conservative operations. Histology revealed 94% of renal cell carcinomas, with 73% of conventional cell carcinomas. The mean follow-up was 49 months (range: 0-197) and 5-year and 10-year survival rates were 74.9 months and 62.6 months, respectively. Multivariate statistical analysis confirmed the prognostic significance of N and M stage, Fuhrman grade, histological type, as well as renal capsule invasion. CONCLUSION: Our data largely confirm those of the last national study conducted in 1997 as well as those of the international literature. Kidney tumours are increasingly discovered incidentally, but tumour size and the age of patients remain stable, while the number of conservative procedures continues to increase each year In addition to the usual prognostic factors, we found that renal capsule invasion was an independent prognostic factor.

Renal cell carcinoma of the grafted kidney: how to improve screening and graft tracking.

Renal cell carcinoma of transplanted kidneys is rare. We report three such cases among 1,250 kidney grafts that were performed or followed from 1968 to 2002. A strategy to diagnose these lesions is needed because of their rarity, late detection, and therapeutic repercussions. At the least, the strategy should include annual ultrasonography of the graft throughout its lifespan. Because the risk of tumor development in another organ from the same donor is not negligible, a national registry should be established to rapidly alert graft recipients with the same donor and other transplantation centers about the risk of graft tumors.

[Bellini renal cell carcinoma. Diagnosis and treatment]. / Carcinome à cellules rénales de Bellini: diagnostic et traitement.

The Bellini collecting duct carcinoma is a very rare form of renal cell carcinoma (1%). It presents at the stage of metastases in the very great majority of cases. The diagnosis should be considered in patients presenting with marked deterioration of the general status and/or the presence of a very large invasive renal tumour on abdominal CT scan. The overall 2-year survival rate of Bellini carcinoma is about 20%. As the prognosis is very poor, even despite radical nephrectomy, biopsy may be performed as the first-line procedure when the diagnosis is suspected. In the case of primary metastatic Bellini carcinoma, radical nephrectomy alone appears to be useless and dangerous except for analgesic purposes or in the context of new multicentre chemotherapy protocols, combining gemcitabine and cisplatin, currently under evaluation.

Nephron sparing surgery for renal cell carcinoma and von Hippel-Lindau's disease: a single center experience.

PURPOSE: We reviewed the efficacy and safety of nephron sparing surgery for renal cell carcinoma in patients with von Hippel-Lindau disease. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Data were collated for all 56 patients with a mean age of 37.2 +/- 11.3 years (range 14 to 62) with von Hippel-Lindau disease who underwent radical nephrectomy or nephron sparing surgery at our department for 1 or more 25 to 60 mm renal cell carcinomas between 1988 and 2001. RESULTS: Overall 30 nephrectomies (33%) and 62 enucleations (67%) were performed for 62 bilateral and 30 unilateral tumors. For nephron sparing surgery estimated intraoperative blood loss was 175 +/- 231.7 cc (range 50 to 1,300), 97% of surgeries had vascular pedicle clamping for 32 +/- 10.4 minutes (range 10 to 50) and there were 4 immediate complications (1 perinephric abscess, 2 urinary fistulas and 1 acute renal failure requiring temporary dialysis). Renal atrophy was noted in 7.3% of cases. Tumor diameter was 31.2 +/- 10.7 mm (range 15 to 60) and recurrence diameter was 22 +/- 7.8 mm (range 4 to 45). Hospital stay was 7.6 +/- 2.4 days (range 5 to 21). Preoperative and postoperative creatinine was 1.0 +/- 0.2 (range 0.6 to 1.7) and 1.2 +/- 0.9 mg/dl (range 0.7 to 6.5), respectively. Median followup was 55.9 months. There were 17 local recurrences (27.4%) and no metastases at recurrence. The overall survival rate was 100% at 5 years and 67% at 10 years. CONCLUSIONS: Nephron sparing surgery is effective and, when feasible, it need not be called into question. However, it may probably be superseded by less invasive techniques for tumors less than 20 mm diagnosed early after these techniques have been validated in long-term trials.

Prognostic factors for the survival of patients with papillary renal cell carcinoma: meaning of histological typing and multifocality.

PURPOSE: We identified prognostic factors of papillary renal cell carcinoma (PRCC) types 1 (PRCC1) and 2 (PRCC2). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between 1985 and 1998, 759 patients underwent surgery for renal cell carcinoma, of whom 88 (11.6%), including 69 males and 19 females with a mean age of 61.8 years (range 21.3 to 85.9) who had PRCC. Multifocality was defined as 2 or greater tumors separated by 10 mm or greater. Small basophilic cells defined PRCC1 and large eosinophilic cells defined PRCC2. Mean followup in 79 cases was 71.1 months (range 1 to 196.6). Survival rates were calculated and statistical analyses were done. RESULTS: The 88 patients underwent radical nephrectomy (65) or conservative surgery (28, that is elective in 17 and imperative in 11). Mean tumor size was 62 mm (range 10 to 190) and 41% of lesions were multifocal, independent of PRCC size, stage, grade or type. Comparing the 56 PRCC1s (63.6%) to the 32 PRCC2s (36.4%) showed that PRCC2 grade and stage were significantly higher (p = 0.024 and 0.025, respectively). A total of 51 patients (64.6%) remained relapse-free and progression-free. Local relapses occurred only after imperative conservative surgery in 2 cases (2.5%). Of the 26 deaths 15 (4 PRCC 1 and 11 PRCC 2) were tumor associated. Mean survival was 26.6 months (range 1 to 112.5). The overall 10-year survival rate was 73% with PRCC1 and PRCC2 10-year rates of 80% and 59%, respectively (p <0.003). Univariate analysis identified stage (p <0.0001), grade (p <0.0001) and histological type (p <0.003) as prognostic factors. Multivariate analysis retained stage (p = 0.006) and grade (p = 0.004). CONCLUSIONS: PRCC multifocality was not associated with stage, grade or histological type and it seems not to be an argument against conservative surgery. Univariate analysis of PRCC prognostic factors identified stage, grade and histological type but the latter was not retained on multivariate analysis.

Is there a place for radical nephrectomy in the presence of metastatic collecting duct (Bellini) carcinoma?

PURPOSE: We describe diagnostic and therapeutic characteristics, and long-term followup of collecting (Bellini) duct carcinoma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ten patients underwent surgery, including radical nephrectomy in 9 and partial nephrectomy in 1, for collecting duct carcinoma diagnosed by histological and immunohistochemical criteria. RESULTS: Collecting duct carcinoma, which represented 1.3% of renal cell carcinomas diagnosed between 1986 and 1999, developed at a mean patient age of 66.2 years (range: 50.7 to 81). It was detected clinically but never because of macroscopic hematuria. Mean tumor size was 94 mm. (range 30 to 150). Stage was pT3, pT2 and pT1 in 7, 1 and 2 cases, respectively. Seven patients had lymph node or extranodal metastases, and 8 and 2 had Fuhrman grades 3 and 4 disease, respectively. Eight patients died, including 3 early during the perioperative or postoperative period, which was attributable to major surgical difficulties associated with these invasive tumors. Two of the 3 patients who did not have metastases were alive 99 and 100 months after surgery, respectively. Median overall survival +/- SD was 9 +/- 6 and 6 +/- 8 months for patients with metastases. The all survival rate was 20% at 2 years. CONCLUSIONS: Most collecting duct carcinomas are already metastatic at presentation. Because the prognosis is dismal despite radical nephrectomy, biopsy should be performed first when radiological findings are suggestive of collecting duct carcinoma. For metastatic collecting duct carcinoma radical nephrectomy alone does not seem to be useful except for palliative reasons or in the framework of new multicentric chemotherapy protocols in progress.

[Hereditary renal cell carcinoma: results and place of conventional conservative surgery]. / Carcinomes à cellules rénales héréditaires: résultats de la chirurgie conservatrice conventionnelle.

OBJECTIVES: To report the results of conservative surgery for the treatment of hereditary renal cell carcinoma (RCC) and to define its place with respect to new less invasive treatment options. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Over a period of 14 years, 30 women and 26 men were operated for one or several hereditary RCC, either by radical nephrectomy or nephron-sparing excision, via a lumbar or subcostal incision, when the diameter of at least one RCC was greater than 2.5 cm. RESULTS: 92 operations were performed: 62 local excisions and 30 nephrectomies. The TNM stage was: 75 pT1, 14 pT2, 3 pT3b; 4 N+; 3 M+. 26 patients (46%) were operated at least twice. Two or more RCC were resected in 43 cases (47%). In the case of nephron-sparing surgery, mean blood loss was 175 +/- 231.7 cc (range: 50-1300 cc); mean pedicle clamping time (97% of cases) was 32 +/- 10.4 min (range: 10-50 min); mean preoperative serum creatinine was 85 +/- 18 micromol/L (range: 52-150 micromol/L) and mean postoperative serum creatinine was 105 +/- 80 micromol/L (range: 59-576 micromol/L); the calculated tumour recurrence rate was 24% at 5 years and 80% at 8 years; overall 5-year survival was 100% and overall 10-year survival was 67%. The median follow-up was 55.9 months. CONCLUSION: When hereditary RCCs are situated between 2.5 cm and 6 cm in diameter, nephron-sparing surgery is the reference treatment. Modern imaging and genetic screening should allow early detection of increasingly smaller RCCs. In the future, less invasive treatment options could replace surveillance for RCCs less than 2 cm and eventually reduce the indications for local excision.

[Value of bootstrapping for small series of patients: application to survival analysis for 26 patients followed for bilateral sporadic renal cell carcinoma]. / Intérêt du rééchantillonage par "bootstrapping" pour les petites séries de patients: application à l'étude de la survie pour 26 patients suivis pour carcinomes à cellules rénales sporadiques bilatéraux.

OBJECTIVE: To use Bootstrapping to estimate the Kaplan-Meier survival of sporadic forms of bilateral renal cell carcinoma (RCC). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Over a period of 13 years, 759 patients were operated for RCC. 26 patients had bilateral sporadic RCC (3.4%) and 23 of them were reviewed with a median follow-up of 50 months (range: 7.8 to 143.4). The 95% confidence interval (95% CI) of Kaplan-Meier survival was estimated according to the Greenwood (Gw) normalized method and by Bootstrap percentile (B*) with B = 1000. RESULTS: The overall 1-year and 5-year survival rates were 95.8% (95% CI Gw: [87.6-100] and B*: [92.1-96.4]) and 73.6% (95% CI Gw: [54.9-92.15] and B*: [72.3-86.5%]), respectively. CONCLUSION: For diseases with a low incidence, Bootstrapping can improve the precision of the Kaplan-Meier survival estimate, by providing a narrower CI. This statistical technique provides the clinician with more precise results in a study limited by a small number of patients.

Coloepiploic mobilization during left radical nephrectomy for renal cell carcinoma is indicated to reduce the risk of iatrogenic splenectomy.

OBJECTIVES: To determine whether coloepiploic mobilization (CEM) is indicated to reduce the incidence of iatrogenic splenectomy during left radical nephrectomy for renal cell carcinoma. The incidence of iatrogenic splenectomy during a left nephrectomy is estimated to be between 1.4% and 24%. In a recent study, we reported that the incidence of iatrogenic splenectomy was 8% during a left nephrectomy performed for renal cell carcinoma through a transperitoneal anterior subcostal incision. METHODS: A left radical nephrectomy was performed in 233 consecutive patients for renal cell carcinoma through a transperitoneal anterior subcostal incision with a CEM procedure in which the left colonic flexure was completely detached from the epiploa. Perioperative and postoperative complications, including splenic injury, were noted in a database. The mean patient age was 51.3 years (range 21.3 to 90.2). The mean tumor size was 58 mm (range 15 to 230). RESULTS: An iatrogenic splenectomy was required in 3 patients, and in 1 patient, a splenic injury was treated conservatively. The incidence of iatrogenic splenectomy accompanying left radical nephrectomy was 1.3%. The mean operative time was 120 minutes (range 80 to 240). The mean time to normal gut motility was 3.4 days (range 2 to 11) and to discharge from the hospital it was 9.3 days (range 6 to 19). Regarding CEM, we did not observe any significant abdominal complications. CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of iatrogenic splenectomy during a left radical nephrectomy through a transperitoneal anterior subcostal incision may be reduced by performing the technique of CEM.

Nephron sparing surgery for renal cell carcinoma using selective renal parenchymal clamping.

PURPOSE: We describe a technical artifice facilitating nephron sparing surgery for renal cell carcinoma without clamping the renal pedicle. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Selective renal parenchymal clamping was performed using a large curved DeBakey aortic clamp placed around and sufficiently far from the tumor. The lesion was resected with a surrounding margin of normal renal parenchyma. The intrarenal vessels were suture ligated and the collecting system was closed as necessary. Time was not limited since the artery was not clamped. RESULTS: Ten patients with renal cell carcinoma in whom nephron sparing surgery was indicated underwent selective renal parenchymal clamping. The indication was elective in 8 patients and urgent in 2. The tumor was at the renal pole in 3 cases and peripheral in 7. Mean tumor size was 32 mm. (range 19 to 52). Blood loss was insignificant. Operative time was 81 minutes (range 61 to 125) and there were no perioperative or postoperative complications. CONCLUSIONS: Selective renal parenchymal clamping is a simple and efficient technical maneuver for facilitating nephron sparing surgery without pedicle dissection and clamping for renal peripheral or pole tumors. Neoplasm location and size are the limiting factors of this technique.