Comparison of renal functional outcomes of active surveillance and partial nephrectomy in the management of oncocytoma

Renal Mass Biopsy Prior to Surgical Excision: Practice, Diagnostic Performance, and Impact on Management in the UroCCR Registry (Ancillary Study No. 118)

Background and objective

A renal mass biopsy (RMB) is not systematically recommended before surgical excision of a renal mass, although it has demonstrated elevated accuracy in determining renal masses with low morbidity. Our aim was to determine the diagnostic accuracy of an RMB, the clinical and tumoral factors associated with RMB practice, and the impact of an RMB on renal cell carcinoma management in a contemporary prospective national registry-UroCCR (2010-2021).

Methods

We identified all patients with a single renal mass (pT1-4 N0-2 M0 or benign) who were treated surgically and stratified them according to the performance of a prior RMB. Patients treated by active surveillance, percutaneous ablative treatment, or stereotaxic radiotherapy were excluded. Diagnostic accuracy of an RMB was determined in the RMB group. Clinical and tumoral factors associated with the practice of RMBs were analyzed using logistic regression.

Key findings and limitations

In total, 9283 patients were included, who presented 1594 tumors (17%) with a prior RMB. RMBs were 92.4% contributive. The correlation between an RMB and excision in the determination of benign/malignant disease, histological subtype, and grade are, respectively, 96.9%, 86.4%, and 52.6%. The impact of an RMB versus no prior RMB was determined according to the rate of surgical excision for benign lesion and the rate of partial nephrectomy (63.9% vs 57.8%; p < 0.001).

Conclusions and clinical implications

An RMB is performed rarely when its diagnostic performance is high. A prior RMB significantly changes the management of localized renal masses, with fewer surgical procedures for benign renal masses and conservative treatment in a higher proportion of patients.

Patient summary

In a large and contemporary registry, we demonstrated that a renal mass biopsy has excellent diagnostic accuracy, significantly reduces renal surgery for benign masses and low-grade/stage renal cell carcinoma, and increases conservative surgical excision.

French AFU Cancer Committee Guidelines - Update 2024-2026: Management of kidney cancer

OBJECTIVE

To update the French recommendations for the management of kidney cancer.

METHODS

A systematic review of the literature was conducted for the period from 2014 to 2024. The most relevant articles concerning the diagnosis, classification, surgical treatment, medical treatment, and follow-up of kidney cancer were selected and incorporated into the recommendations. The recommendations have been updated specifying the level of evidence (strong or weak).

RESULTS

Kidney cancer following prolonged occupational exposure to trichloroethylene should be considered an occupational disease. The reference examination for the diagnosis and staging of kidney cancer is the contrast-enhanced thoraco-abdominal CT scan. PET scans are not indicated in the staging of kidney cancer. Percutaneous biopsy is recommended in situations where its results will influence therapeutic decisions. It should be used to reduce the number of surgeries for benign tumors, particularly avoiding unnecessary radical nephrectomies. Kidney tumors should be classified according to the pTNM 2017 classification, the WHO 2022 classification, and the ISUP nucleolar grade. Metastatic kidney cancers should be classified according to IMDC criteria. Surveillance of tumors smaller than 2cm should be prioritized and can be offered regardless of patient age. Robot-assisted laparoscopic partial nephrectomy is the reference surgical treatment for T1 tumors. Ablative therapies and surveillance are options for elderly patients with comorbidities for tumors larger than 2cm. Stereotactic radiotherapy is an option to discuss for treating localized kidney tumors in patients not eligible for other treatments. Radical nephrectomy is the first-line treatment for locally advanced localized cancers. Pembrolizumab is recommended for patients at high risk of recurrence after surgery for localized kidney cancer. In metastatic patients, cytoreductive nephrectomy can be immediate in cases of good prognosis, delayed in cases of intermediate or poor prognosis for patients stabilized by medical treatment, or as "consolidation" in patients with complete or major partial response at metastatic sites after systemic treatment. Surgical or local treatment of metastases can be proposed for single lesions or oligometastases. Recommended first-line drugs for metastatic clear cell renal carcinoma are combinations of axitinib/pembrolizumab, nivolumab/ipilimumab, nivolumab/cabozantinib, and lenvatinib/pembrolizumab. Patients with non-clear cell metastatic kidney cancer should be presented to the CARARE Network and prioritized for inclusion in clinical trials.

CONCLUSION

These updated recommendations are a reference that will enable French and French-speaking practitioners to optimize their management of kidney cancer.

Stability of renal parenchymal volume and function during active surveillance of renal oncocytoma patients

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE

To evaluate whether significant loss in ipsilateral renal parenchymal volume (IRPV) and renal function occurs during active surveillance (AS) of renal oncocytoma (RO) patients.

METHODS

Renal function (estimated glomerular filtration rate, eGFR) dynamics were retrospectively analyzed in 32 consecutive biopsy-diagnosed RO patients managed with AS at a National Comprehensive Cancer Network institute. Three-dimensional kidney and tumor reconstructions were generated and IRPV was calculated using volumetry software (Myrian®) for all patients with manually estimated RO growth >+10 cm3. GFR and IRPV were compared at AS initiation vs. the last follow-up using 2-sided paired t-tests. The correlation between change in IRPV and change in RO size or GFR was tested using a Spearman coefficient.

RESULTS

With median follow-up of 37 months, there was no significant change between initial vs. last eGFR (median 71.0 vs. 70.5 ml/min/1.73 m2, P = 0.50; median change -3.0 ml/min/1.73 m2). Among patients (n = 17) with RO growth >+10 cm3 during AS (median growth +28.6 cm3, IQR +16.9- + 46.5 cm3), IRPV generally remained stable (median change +0.5%, IQR -1.2%- + 1.2%), with only 2 cases surpassing 5% loss. No IRPV loss was detected among any patient within the top tertile of RO growth magnitude. RO growth magnitude did not correlate with loss of either IRPV (ρ = -0.30, P = 0.24) or eGFR (ρ = -0.16, P = 0.40), including among patient subsets with lower initial eGFR. Study limitations include a lack of long-term follow-up.

CONCLUSIONS

Volumetry is a promising novel tool to measure kidney and tumor tissue changes during AS. Our study using volumetry indicates that clinically significant loss of IRPV or eGFR is uncommon and unrelated to tumor growth among untreated RO patients with intermediate follow-up. These findings support that AS is in general functionally safe for RO patients, however longer study is needed to determine safety durability, particularly among uncommon ≥cT2 RO variants.

No difference in renal function outcomes for patients with oncocytoma managed with active surveillance vs. partial nephrectomy

OBJECTIVES

To investigate the difference in renal function outcomes for patients with oncocytomas undergoing active surveillance (AS) vs. partial nephrectomy (PN).

METHODS

We reviewed our institutional database for patients with biopsy/surgically confirmed oncocytoma from 2000-2020. The primary outcome was to assess for differences in renal function outcomes in patients undergoing AS vs. PN. We fit two generalized estimating equation (GEE) with an interaction term between follow up time and management strategy to predict 1) mean eGFR for patients managed with AS and PN and 2) the probability of progression to CKD stage III or greater.

RESULTS

We identified 114 eligible patients, of which 32 were managed with AS. Median follow-up was 21 months vs. 44 months for PN vs. AS patients. AS patients tended to be older (median: 72 years vs. 65 years, P<0.001) and have lower baseline renal function (median: eGFR: 71 mL/min/1.73m2 vs. 82 mL/min/1.73m2, P<0.001) compared with PN patients. Renal mass size from baseline imaging was similar between patients undergoing PN vs. AS (2.8 cm vs. 2.9 cm, P=0.634). For patients undergoing PN vs. AS, there was not a significant difference in predicted longitudinal eGFR (-0.079, 95% CI -0.18-0.023, P=0.129) or predicted probability of progression to CKD stage III or greater (OR: 0.61, 95% CI: 0.16-2.33, P=0.47).

CONCLUSIONS

In our institutional dataset, patients undergoing AS or PN with an oncocytoma had similar long-term renal function outcomes. Given similar renal function outcomes in patients undergoing AS and PN, surgery should remain reserved for select patients with oncocytomas.

CT differentiation of the oncocytoma and renal cell carcinoma based on peripheral tumor parenchyma and central hypodense area characterisation

BACKGROUND

Although the central scar is an essential imaging characteristic of renal oncocytoma (RO), its utility in distinguishing RO from renal cell carcinoma (RCC) has not been well explored. The study aimed to evaluate whether the combination of CT characteristics of the peripheral tumor parenchyma (PTP) and central hypodense area (CHA) can differentiate typical RO with CHA from RCC.

METHODS

A total of 132 tumors on the initial dataset were retrospectively evaluated using four-phase CT. The excretory phases were performed more than 20 min after the contrast injection. In corticomedullary phase (CMP) images, all tumors had CHAs. These tumors were categorized into RO (n = 23), clear cell RCC (ccRCC) (n = 85), and non-ccRCC (n = 24) groups. The differences in these qualitative and quantitative CT features of CHA and PTP between ROs and ccRCCs/non-ccRCCs were statistically examined. Logistic regression filters the main factors for separating ROs from ccRCCs/non-ccRCCs. The prediction models omitting and incorporating CHA features were constructed and evaluated, respectively. The effectiveness of the prediction models including CHA characteristics was then confirmed through a validation dataset (8 ROs, 35 ccRCCs, and 10 non-ccRCCs).

RESULTS

The findings indicate that for differentiating ROs from ccRCCs and non-ccRCCs, prediction models with CHA characteristics surpassed models without CHA, with the corresponding areas under the curve (AUC) being 0.962 and 0.914 versus 0.952 and 0.839 respectively. In the prediction models that included CHA parameters, the relative enhancement ratio (RER) in CMP and enhancement inversion, as well as RER in nephrographic phase and enhancement inversion were the primary drivers for differentiating ROs from ccRCCs and non-ccRCCs, respectively. The prediction models with CHA characteristics had the comparable diagnostic ability on the validation dataset, with respective AUC values of 0.936 and 0.938 for differentiating ROs from ccRCCs and non-ccRCCs.

CONCLUSION

The prediction models with CHA characteristics can help better differentiate typical ROs from RCCs. When a mass with CHA is discovered, particularly if RO is suspected, EP images with longer delay scanning periods should be acquired to evaluate the enhancement inversion characteristics of CHA.

Reliability and Management Outcomes Following a Percutaneous Biopsy Diagnosis of Oncocytoma: A 15-year Retrospective Analysis

Background There is uncertainty in the management of renal masses diagnosed as oncocytomas with image-guided percutaneous biopsy. Purpose To assess the reliability of a diagnosis of oncocytoma based on image-guided percutaneous renal mass biopsy and evaluate patient outcomes following different management strategies. Materials and Methods In this retrospective study, image-guided percutaneous biopsy pathology reports from April 2004 to April 2019 were searched for keywords "oncocytoma" and "oncocytic neoplasm" and compared with surgical pathology or repeat biopsy results. Patients with at least 12 months of clinical follow-up and known cause of death were grouped according to management strategies, and disease-specific survival and metastatic renal cell carcinoma (RCC)-free survival were compared. Mass growth rates were calculated with use of a normal linear mixed model. Results The database yielded 160 biopsy reports of 149 renal masses in 139 patients; 149 masses were categorized as oncocytoma (n = 107), likely oncocytoma (n = 12), oncocytic neoplasm (n = 28), and indeterminate with oncocytoma in differential (n = 2). Biopsied masses categorized as oncocytoma or likely oncocytoma were oncocytomas in 16 of 17 masses (94%) based on surgical pathology or repeat biopsy; four of eight masses (50%) categorized as oncocytic neoplasms were low-grade RCCs. Outcome analysis included 121 patients (mean age ± SD, 68 years ± 9.1; 82 men); 80 patients initially underwent active surveillance (11 were later treated), 33 underwent ablation, and eight underwent surgery. Disease-specific survival and metastatic-free survival were 100% after each management strategy (median follow-up, 86.6 months; range, 14.2-207.9 months). Mass growth rate (mean, 1.7 mm per year) showed no evidence of a significant difference among biopsy result categories (P = .37) or initial (P = .84) or final management strategies (P = .11). Conclusion Image-guided percutaneous biopsy diagnosis of renal oncocytoma was reliable. Although some masses diagnosed as oncocytic neoplasms were low-grade renal cell carcinomas (RCCs) at final diagnosis, no patients died of RCC, including those managed with active surveillance. © RSNA, 2023 See also the editorial by Lockhart in this issue.

Benefit and Harm of Active Surveillance for Biopsy-proven Renal Oncocytoma: A Systematic Review and Pooled Analysis

Context

Active surveillance (AS) of biopsy-proven renal oncocytomas may reduce overtreatment. However, on biopsy, the risk of misdiagnosis owing principally to entities with peculiar hybrids and overlap morphology, and phenotypes argues for early intervention.

Objective

To assess the benefit and harm of AS in biopsy-proven renal oncocytoma.

Evidence acquisition

A systematic review was conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA). We systematically searched PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases from September 26 up to October 2021, for studies that analyzed the outcomes of AS in patients with biopsy-proven renal oncocytoma.

Evidence synthesis

A total of ten studies with 633 patients met our inclusion criteria and were included for analysis. After a median follow-up of 34.5 mo (95% confidence interval [CI] 30.6–38.4), the overall definitive treatment rate from AS to definitive treatment was 17.3% (n = 75/433, six studies). The pooled pathological agreement between the initial renal mass biopsy and the surgical pathology report was 91.1%. The main indications for surgery during follow-up were rapid tumor growth and patient request. The pooled median growth rate was 1.55 mm/yr (95% CI 0.9–2.2). No metastasis or death related to renal oncocytoma was reported.

Conclusions

Annual tumor growth of biopsy-proven renal oncocytoma is low. AS is oncologically safe, with favorable compliance of patients. Crossover to definitive treatment revealed a strong concordance between biopsy and final pathology. Further studies on the long-term outcomes of AS are needed.

Patient summary

In this study, we examined the benefit and harm of active surveillance (AS) in biopsy-proven oncocytoma. Based on the available data, AS appears oncologically safe and may represent a promising alternative to immediate treatment. Patients should be included in AS decision discussions.

Real world outcomes of biopsy-proven oncocytic neoplasm of the kidney managed by surveillance

Objectives

To evaluate outcomes of patients diagnosed with oncocytic renal neoplasms on routine renal mass biopsy and to describe the natural history of these tumours when managed with surveillance as opposed to immediate intervention. To report disease-specific survival.

Patients and methods

Patients were identified from a retrospective review of pathology databases from three tertiary referral centres that utilise renal mass biopsy in routine clinical practice. All patients with biopsy-proven oncocytic tumours were included and a retrospective review of online patient records was undertaken.

Results

There were 184 biopsy-proven oncocytic renal neoplasms identified in 172 patients. There were two biopsy complications (both pneumothorax, Clavien-Dindo Grade I). Of these lesions, 135 were reported as oncocytomas or oncocytic renal neoplasms that were not further classified and 37 were reported as chromophobe carcinoma (ChRCC). The median age at diagnosis was 70 (33-88). The average tumour diameter at diagnosis was 33 mm. One hundred seven tumours were initially managed with surveillance (including 13 ChRCC) with a minimum follow-up of 6 months and a median of 39 months (6-144) whereas 49 patients underwent immediate treatment. The mean growth rate across all oncocytic renal neoplasms managed by surveillance was 3 mm/year. There was no statistically significant difference in growth rates between oncocytic renal neoplasms and ChRCC. Thirteen patients with oncocytic renal neoplasms initially managed by surveillance moved on to an active management strategy during follow-up. The clinical indication given for a change from surveillance was tumour growth in 12 cases and patient choice in 1 case. Where definitive pathology was available, there was 85% concordance with the biopsy. There were no cases of development of metastatic disease or disease-related morbidity or mortality during the study.

Conclusions

This multicentre retrospective cohort study supports the hypothesis that selected biopsy-proven oncocytic renal neoplasms can be safely managed with surveillance in the medium term. Routine renal mass biopsy may reduce surgery for benign or indolent renal tumours and the potential associated morbidity for these patients.

Growth and renal function dynamics of renal oncocytomas in patients on active surveillance

OBJECTIVES

To study the natural history of renal oncocytomas and address indications for intervention by determining how growth is associated with renal function over time, the reasons for surgery and ablation, and disease-specific survival.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

The study was conducted in a retrospective cohort of consecutive patients with renal oncocytoma on active surveillance reviewed at the Specialist Centre for Kidney Cancer at the Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust (2012 to 2019). Comparison between groups was performed using Mann-Whitney U-tests and chi-squared tests. A mixed-effects model with a random intercept for patient was used to study the longitudinal association between tumour size and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR).

RESULTS

Longitudinal data from 98 patients with 101 lesions were analysed. Most patients were men (68.3%) and the median (interquartile range [IQR]) age was 69 (13) years. The median (IQR) follow-up was 29 (26) months. Most lesions were small renal masses, and 24% measured over 4 cm. Over half (64.4%) grew at a median (IQR) rate of 2 (4) mm per year. No association was observed between tumour size and eGFR over time (P = 0.871). Nine lesions (8.9%) were subsequently treated. Two deaths were reported, neither were related to the diagnosis of renal oncocytoma.

CONCLUSION

Natural history data from the largest active surveillance cohort of renal oncocytomas to date show that renal function does not seem to be negatively impacted by growing oncocytomas, and confirms clinical outcomes are excellent after a median follow-up of over 2 years. Active surveillance should be considered the 'gold standard' management of renal oncocytomas up to 7cm.

Utilization of renal mass biopsy in patients with localized renal cell carcinoma: A population-based study utilizing the National Cancer Database

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate trends and factors predicting use of renal mass biopsy (RMB) for localized Renal Cell Carcinoma in the United States (US) in the context of current guidelines recommendations.

METHODS

We queried the National Cancer Database for cT1-cT3N0M0 Renal Cell Carcinoma diagnosed between 2004 and 2015. Temporal trends of RMB were characterized based on tumor size, treatment (partial nephrectomy [PN], radical nephrectomy [RN], ablation, and no treatment), age and Charlson Comorbidity Index with slopes compared using analysis of variance. Multivariable analysis was used to determine factors associated with use of RMB.

RESULTS

Of 338,252 patients analyzed, 11.9% (40,276) underwent RMB. Use of RMB increased throughout the study period from 1,586 (7.6%) in 2004 to 5,629 (16.2%) in 2015 (P < 0.001). Use of RMB increased greatest for ablation (27 to 63%, P < 0.001) and tumors 2-4 cm (9 to 20%, P < 0.001). Multivariable analysis showed year of diagnosis (OR = 1.06; P < 0.001), higher education (OR = 1.09; P < 0.001) and insured status (OR = 1.23; P < 0.001) were associated with increased RMB. Compared to tumors ≤2 cm, tumors 2.1-4 cm (OR = 1.36; P=<0.001), 4.1-7 cm (OR = 1.18; P <0.001) and >7 cm (OR = 1.05; P = 0.03) were associated with higher rates of RMB. Compared to RN, PN was not associated with increased RMB (OR = 1.00; P = 0.92), while ablation (OR = 10.90; P < 0.001) and no surgical treatment (OR = 4.83; P < 0.001) were.

CONCLUSION

RMB utilization increased overall, with largest increase associated with ablation. Nonetheless, only two-thirds of patients underwent RMB with ablation, suggesting persistent underutilization. Rates of RMB for tumors ≤2 cm and in those undergoing no treatment increased less, suggesting less utilization for surveillance. However, rates for tumors >2-4 cm increased more, suggesting selective utilization of RMB to guide decision-making and risk stratification in small renal masses.