Our experience in the surgical treatment of renal carcinoma metastases

Abstract

The authors report their experience in the surgical treatment of synchronous and metachronous metastases from renal cell carcinoma. From January 1986 to December 1992, 47 nephrectomised patients (11.6%) out of 403 underwent contemporary or subsequent metastasectomy. Metastases were synchronous in 18 cases (38.3%), while metachronous metastases appeared in 29 (61.7%) after a mean disease-free interval of 28 months. After a mean follow-up of 36 months, out of the 18 cases with synchronous metastases, 9 died, 4 are in progression and 5 are still alive and NED; of the 29 patients with metachronous metastases, 3 died, 6 are in progression and 20 are still alive and NED. In conclusion, while the presence of synchronous metastases is an unfavourable prognostic factor even after their removal, results after surgery of metachronous metastases are encouraging.