Retroperitoneal laparoscopic radical nephrectomy: Intermediate oncological results

To report the intermediate oncological results of laparoscopic radical nephrectomy by retroperitoneal approach. From 1995 to 2006, 146 consecutive patients with removal of a malignant kidney tumor by laparoscopic retroperitoneal radical nephrectomy were analysed retrospectively. The patients were followed clinically, biologically and radiologically every 6 months. Disease-free survival and specific survival were determined among patients free of metastasis at surgery. Patient's average age was 61.1 years (25-85). The pathology of these cancers were: 108 clear cell carcinomas, 26 papillary carcinomas, 10 chromophobe carcinomas, and 2 miscellaneous. The T stage were: 105 pT1, 12 pT2, and 29 pT3 (TNM 2002). The Fuhrman grade were: I in 23 cases, II in 70 cases, III in 40 cases, and IV in 9 cases. The surgical margins were positive in 2. No port site recurrence occurred. The average follow-up was 35.4 months (1-137). Five patients had metastatic disease at presentation. Tumor progression was observed among 19 patients, in the form of a local (1) or remote recurrence (18). Fourteen patients died, including 7 because of their tumor. The disease-free survival at 5 and 10 years, were respectively 87.3 and 73.2%, and the cancer-specific survival were 96.2 and 92.0%, respectively. The laparoscopic retroperitoneal radical nephrectomy offers intermediate oncological results compatible with appropriate carcinological efficacy.