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Kidney Mass/Cancer

One size does not fit all when it comes to renal masses. Each patient and each mass needs to be treated individually with the most advanced therapy available.

Continuum of Treatment for Renal Masses

Active Surveillance

Percutaneous Cryoablation

Laparoscopic Ablation

Open partial Nephrectomy

Robotic/Laparoscopic partial Nephrectomy

Laparoscopic Nephrectomy

    Open Radical Nephrectomy with Extensive Retroperitoneal Lymph Node Dissection

Most masses that are found on the kidney today are in people without symptoms who were having a CT scan or ultrasound for some other reason.

In the past, everyone who had a mass on their kidney had it removed. Newer evidence and practices are making laparoscopy more commonly performed and removing only part of the kidney has become standard for most small kidney masses. In some cases, the masses are not removed at all but rather observed to see if they grow over time. It is crucial that a skilled urologist is involved in this decision.

Treatment options include removing all or only part of a kidney. In many cases, surgery on the kidney may be performed laparascopically, therefore minimizing the incision and post-operative recovery time. In select cases, the mass can be treated using heat or cold energy without having the mass physically removed.