Renal Cancer
In the past decade, the number of renal cancer cases has been increasing annually.
According to data from the Hong Kong Cancer Registry, the number of newly diagnosed cases of renal cancer rose from 498 cases in 2010 to 878 cases in 2019. With the
increasing popularity of body imaging, many cases of renal cancer can be detected at an early stage. The majority of new patients are aged 40 and above, with the highest peak occurring between 65 and 75 years old. Risk factors for renal cancer include smoking, genetics, hypertension, obesity, and long-term dialysis.
Urologists use computed-tomography scans (CT) to assess the stage of renal cancer and develop surgical plans. In early-stage renal cancer, surgical resection has a cure rate exceeding 90%. Surgical options include total nephrectomy or partial nephrectomy. Total nephrectomy involves the complete removal of the entire kidney along with the tumor, while partial nephrectomy involves removing only the tumor while preserving the remaining normal kidney tissue. Studies have found that if the renal tumor is 7 cm or smaller, both total nephrectomy and partial nephrectomy have similar cure rates.
Furthermore, partial nephrectomy allows for the preservation of more normal kidney tissue, reducing the chances of future chronic kidney failure and the need for dialysis. It also improves long-term cardiovascular function and survival rates for patients.
Currently, partial nephrectomy can be performed through minimally invasive
laparoscopic or robot-assisted approaches, significantly improving the precision of resection and enhancing postoperative recovery time for patients.
(Partial nephrectomy for renal caner)
