Technique and outcomes of robotic-assisted retroperitoneal radical nephrectomy

Background

Robotic retroperitoneal partial nephrectomy (rRPN) has numerous advantages over transperitoneal surgery, including direct access to the renal hilum and posterior tumors, and avoidance of the peritoneal cavity in patients with a hostile abdomen. Although the use of the retroperitoneal approach has increased over the last decade, there is little literature on robotic retroperitoneal radical nephrectomy (rRRN), which has similar benefits over the transperitoneal approach. The aim of this study was to describe our technique for robotic retroperitoneal nephrectomy (rRN) and assess its feasibility and outcomes at a high-volume center.

Methods

A retrospective review of patients who underwent some form of rRN [rRRN, robotic retroperitoneal simple nephrectomy (rRSN), or robotic retroperitoneal nephroureterectomy (rRNU)] at a single institution between 2013 and 2023. Patient characteristics, operative data, and postoperative complication rates were assessed. The technique for rRN was detailed.

Results

A total of 13 renal units in 12 patients were included for analysis (7 rRRN, 5 rRSN, 1 rRNU). Median patient age was 64.0 years, and median body mass index (BMI) was 36.0 kg/m2. Indications for retroperitoneal surgery were prior abdominal surgery in all patients, including three with bowel diversions, super morbid central obesity in two patients, and a large ventral hernia in one patient. Median operative time was 213 minutes and median estimated blood loss (EBL) was 85 cc. Median postoperative length of stay (LOS) was 3 days, and only one patient experienced a Clavien-Dindo grade ≥3 complication within 90 days of surgery.

Conclusions

The retroperitoneal approach for robotic-assisted nephrectomy is feasible and associated with similar outcomes as the transperitoneal approach. This approach may prove beneficial in select patients with significant prior abdominal surgery including those who are morbidly obese.

Robotic Partial vs Radical Nephrectomy for Clinical T3a Tumors: A Narrative Review

Introduction: T3a renal masses include a diverse group of tumors that invade the perirenal and/or sinus fat, pelvicaliceal system, or renal vein. The majority of cT3a renal masses represent renal cell carcinoma (RCC) and have historically been treated with radical nephrectomy (RN) given their aggressive nature. With the adoption of minimally invasive approaches to renal surgery, the combination of improved observation, pneumoperitoneum, and robotic articulation has allowed urologists to consider partial nephrectomy (PN) for more complex tumors. Herein, we review the existing literature regarding robot-assisted PN (RAPN) and robot-assisted RN (RARN) in the management of T3a renal masses. Methods: A literature search was performed using PubMed for articles evaluating the role of RARN and RAPN for T3a renal masses. Search parameters were limited to English language studies. Applicable studies were abstracted and included in this narrative review. Results: T3a RCC caused by renal sinus fat or venous involvement is associated with ∼50% lower cancer-specific survival than those with perinephric fat invasion alone. CT and MRI can both be used to stage cT3a tumors, however, MRI is more accurate when assessing venous involvement. Upstaging to pT3a RCC during RAPN does not confer a worse prognosis than pT3a tumors treated with RARN; however, patients who undergo RAPN for T3a RCC with venous involvement have relatively higher rates of recurrence and metastasis. Intraoperative tools including drop-in ultrasound, near-infrared fluorescence, and 3D virtual models improve the ability to perform RAPN for T3a tumors. In well-selected cases, warm ischemia times remain reasonable. Conclusions: cT3a renal masses represent a diverse group of tumors. Depending on substratification of cT3a, RARN or RAPN can be employed for treatment of such masses.

Immediate gemcitabine bladder instillation following bladder closure during robotic-assisted radical nephroureterectomy: a multi-institutional report of feasibility and initial outcomes

Background

Bladder recurrence after radical nephroureterectomy (RNU) is common and randomized data supports utilization of prophylactic intravesical mitomycin to reduce recurrence. Recently, gemcitabine has been shown to be safe and effective at reducing recurrence following transurethral resection of bladder tumors. We sought to evaluate the safety and efficacy of a single, intraoperative gemcitabine instillation immediately following bladder cuff closure during RNU, and to compare outcomes with non-gemcitabine intravesical chemotherapy agents.

Methods

We retrospectively reviewed all patients from two high volume centers who underwent robotic-assisted RNU between 2016-2020 and received either 2 g intravesical gemcitabine immediately following bladder cuff closure or non-gemcitabine intravesical chemotherapies [40 mg mitomycin C (MMC) or 50 mg doxorubicin] at the beginning of the procedure. Clinicopathologic factors were compared between cohorts. Bladder recurrence rates were evaluated using the Kaplan-Meier method and log-rank test.

Results

During RNU, 24 patients received gemcitabine and 31 patients received non-gemcitabine chemotherapy. In total, 35% (19/55) of patients experienced a bladder cancer recurrence. There was no significant difference in estimated bladder recurrence-free survival (bRFS) between gemcitabine and non-gemcitabine patient cohorts (P=0.64). By 12 months post-surgery, 25% of patients had experienced bladder recurrence. The estimated 1-year bladder RFS survival was 73% for gemcitabine and 76% for non-gemcitabine chemotherapy. Overall survival and cancer-specific survival did not differ between cohorts. No adverse events potentially attributable to the use of gemcitabine were noted within 30 days postoperatively.

Conclusions

Gemcitabine instilled immediately following bladder cuff closure during RNU has similar bRFS rates compared to established chemotherapy agents instilled at the start of surgery.

Significant financial differences of chemical and surgical androgen deprivation in a contemporary cohort

Background

Androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) remains a cornerstone of treatment for advanced prostate cancer. Few men elect for surgical castration via bilateral orchiectomy. We sought to compare the relative difference in financial charges between chemical and surgical ADT in men.

Methods

Billing data was obtained for patients with metastatic prostate cancer receiving chemical ADT and who had bilateral orchiectomy from 2014-2019. Men had chosen intervention based on personal preference. We compared charges of ADT administration for chemical ADT and overall charges for bilateral orchiectomy. We determined the time chemical ADT patient charges surpassed those of surgical charges, as well as the net present value (NPV) of hypothetical savings for electing surgery over various ADT agents.

Results

One hundred and thirty-seven patients receiving chemical ADT and 7 patients who had undergone bilateral orchiectomy were analyzed. Median and mean surgical charges were $13,000. By 38 weeks following treatment initiation, 50% of chemical ADT patients had surpassed surgical charges, with 95% at 2 years. The NPV in savings for a median patient varied between ADT agent and was highest at $167,000 for leuprolide.

Conclusions

In less than a year, the median chemical ADT patient charges were greater than surgical castration. The NPV of electing surgery over ADT was the highest with leuprolide. Despite under-utilization, surgical castration remains a medically appropriate and cost-effective option for permanent ADT.

Sequential intravesical gemcitabine and docetaxel for BCG-naïve high-risk nonmuscle-invasive bladder cancer

497

Background: Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) is currently recommended as adjuvant therapy following complete transurethral resection of bladder tumor (TURBT) for high-risk non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC). However, continued BCG production shortages have precluded the use of BCG in many urologic practices. Efficacy of sequential intravesical gemcitabine and docetaxel (Gem/Doce) in the BCG failure setting has been reproduced across multiple institutions. In response to the continuing BCG shortage, Gem/Doce has been utilized at our institution in the BCG-naïve setting. We report the outcomes of a large cohort of patients with high-risk BCG-naïve NMIBC treated with Gem/Doce. Methods: We retrospectively identified all patients with BCG-naïve high-risk NMIBC who were treated with Gem/Doce from May 2013 through April 2021. We included patients with intent to receive 6 weekly intravesical instillations of sequential 1 gram gemcitabine and 37.5mg docetaxel after complete TURBT. Monthly maintenance of 2 years was initiated if disease free at first follow-up. The primary outcome was recurrence-free survival (RFS) and efficacy was evaluated in an intention-to-treat manner. Recurrence was defined as pathologically confirmed tumor relapse in the bladder or prostatic urethra. Progression was defined as T-stage increase from Ta or CIS to T1 or development of muscle invasive or metastatic disease. Survival was assessed using the Kaplan-Meier method and log rank test, indexed from the first Gem/Doce instillation. Results: One hundred seven patients with median follow-up of 15 months were included in the analysis. There were 47 with any CIS, 55 with T1 disease, and 7 with micropapillary variant histology. Four patients did not complete a full induction cycle due to hematuria (3) and severe frequency/nocturia (1). 19 patients sustained a recurrence at any point during follow-up. RFS was 89%, 85%, and 82% at 6, 12, and 24 months, respectively. No difference in RFS was seen in patients with or without CIS (p = 0.42). No patients met criteria for either form of disease progression. One patient underwent cystectomy due to end-stage lower urinary tract symptoms, with final pathology pTisN0. No patients died of bladder cancer. Overall survival was 84% at 24 months. 46 patients reported any symptoms during treatment. Common side effects included urinary frequency/urgency (36%), hematuria (11%), and dysuria (8%). Conclusions: In a large cohort of high-risk, BCG-naïve NMIBC patients, Gem/Doce showed excellent efficacy (84% 2-year HG-RFS). These rates are similar to modern treatment naïve cohorts receiving BCG. Prospective comparative analysis of Gem/Doce in BCG-naïve populations is warranted.[Table: see text]

Long-term follow-up of intravesical gemcitabine and docetaxel as rescue therapy for nonmuscle-invasive bladder cancer

573

Background: Intravesical bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) is the first-line treatment for high-risk non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC). Unfortunately, disease recurrence/progression is common and associated with increased risk of death from bladder cancer. While radical cystectomy remains the preferred treatment for BCG unresponsive NMIBC, many patients are either unwilling or unfit to undergo surgery. Previous retrospective studies have demonstrated the efficacy of intravesical gemcitabine and docetaxel (Gem/Doce) for treating NMIBC after BCG failure. However, the long-term outcomes of this cohort are unknown. We report 5-year survival outcomes of patients treated with intravesical Gem/Doce after BCG failure. Methods: We retrospectively identified patients at our institution who were treated with Gem/Doce for high-risk NMIBC after BCG failure between 2009 and 2017. Patients received six weekly intravesical Gem/Doce instillations. Initial responders received monthly maintenance instillations for 2 years. Surveillance was performed according to American Urological Association guidelines. Survival time was measured from start of Gem/Doce induction. Outcomes included high-grade recurrence-free survival (HG-RFS), progression-free survival (PFS), cystectomy-free survival (CFS), cancer-specific survival (CSS) and overall survival (OS). Recurrence was defined as pathologically confirmed tumor relapse in the bladder or prostatic urethra. Progression was defined as recurrence of disease with stage T2 or greater, cystectomy or death due to bladder cancer. Survival probabilities were calculated with the Kaplan-Meier method. Results: A total of 97 patients with a median age of 73 years were treated with Gem/Doce after BCG failure. Median follow-up was 49 months. BCG failure was further stratified as BCG unresponsive (35%), BCG relapsing (38%), BCG intolerant (11%) or unspecified (16%). 71% and 21% of patients had carcinoma in-situ and high-grade T1 disease, respectively. Complete response at initial surveillance was 74% and median duration of response was 26 months. Overall HG-RFS at 1, 2 and 5 years was 60%, 51% and 31%, respectively. HG-RFS was similar among BCG unresponsive patients and the overall cohort (see table). During follow-up, 18 patients (19%) underwent radical cystectomy and 28 patients (29%) experienced disease progression. PFS, CFS, CSS and OS at 5 years was 68%, 75%, 91% and 64%, respectively. Conclusions: Intravesical Gem/Doce for high-risk NMIBC after BCG failure offers long-term efficacy and substantial durability of response with a high likelihood of bladder preservation at five years after induction. Future prospective trials assessing Gem/Doce are warranted.[Table: see text]

Sequential intravesical valrubicin and docetaxel for the treatment of nonmuscle invasive bladder cancer

496

Background: Intravesical gemcitabine-docetaxel (Gem/Doce) has emerged as an efficacious and well-tolerated therapy for NMIBC. At first cytoscopic evaluation, success rate for BCG failures is 75-80% with 60% of responders remaining disease free at 24 months. Success rates are even higher for BCG naïve patients with close to 90% disease free at 3 months, and 93% of responders HG disease free at 24 months. There is an unmet need for effective bladder-sparing regimens for Gem/Doce failures. FDA-approved agents in this setting have poor long-term efficacy; Valrubicin has an 8% 24-month disease free rate, and recently approved Pembrolizumab has less than 20% complete response at 1 year. Based on poor efficacy of alternatives, we evaluated sequential intravesical valrubicin-docetaxel (Val/Doce) as a rescue therapy for NMIBC. Methods: We retrospectively identified all patients with NMIBC who were treated with Val/Doce between April 2013 and June 2021. Patients were included with intent to receive 6 weekly intravesical instillations of sequential 800 mg valrubicin and 37.5 mg docetaxel after complete TURBT. Monthly maintenance of 2 years was initiated if disease free at 3-month cytoscopic evaluation. The primary outcome was recurrence-free survival (RFS). Progression events included the development of muscle invasive or metastatic disease as well as any cystectomy. Survival was assessed using the Kaplan-Meier method and log rank test, indexed from start of Val/Doce induction. Surveillance was performed according to AUA guidelines. Results: The final cohort included 75 patients with median follow-up of 21 months. Of these patients, 12 were treated with Val/Doce for low-grade Ta disease, with 60% disease free at 2 years and no subsequent HG occurrences. The remaining 63 patients had high-grade disease of which 86% were BCG failures and 89% were Gem/Doce unresponsive. The 2 year RFS for high-grade patients was 39%. CIS was present in 56% of the cohort. RFS was similar for those with and without CIS. Progression occurred in 12 of the patients with high-grade disease. Of note, 10 underwent cystectomy and 2 died of metastatic bladder cancer, yielding a bladder cancer specific death rate of 3%. Overall and cystectomy-free survival was 88 and 85% at 24 months, respectively. The most commonly reported side effects were bladder spasms (24%), urinary frequency (13%), and dysuria (11%). There were 3 patients who could not tolerant a full induction course. Conclusions: Sequential intravesical valrubicin-docetaxel will rescue a substantial portion of patients with HG NMIBC failing Gem/Doce or BCG. Thus, the regimen allows a high proportion of patients ( > 80%) to retain their bladders with an acceptable ( < 20%) progression rate without succumbing to bladder cancer-related death ( < 5%).[Table: see text]

Knowledge and Attitudes Regarding Surgical Castration in Men Receiving Androgen Deprivation Therapy for Metastatic Prostate Cancer and Their Relationship to Health-Related Quality of Life

OBJECTIVE

To determine the attitudes and education regarding surgical castration in men receiving androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) for metastatic prostate cancer (mCaP).

METHODS

We identified 142 patients receiving ADT for mCaP at our institution without prior orchiectomy who were then sent 2 surveys via mail: (1) A questionnaire to assess knowledge and understanding of ADT treatment alternatives and (2) the functional assessment of cancer therapy - prostate (FACT-P) questionnaire which determines health-related quality of life (HRQOL). Two cohorts were created based on the answer to "would you be interested in surgical orchiectomy?" and demographic, CaP and HRQOL were compared between the surgical castration yes (SC+) and surgical castration no (SC-) cohorts. A second analysis identified predictors of worse HRQOL.

RESULTS

Of 68 (47.9%) patients that responded to the survey, only 39 (59.1%) recalled a discussion regarding treatment alternatives to ADT and only 22 (33.3%) recalled a discussion regarding orchiectomy. There were 24 (40.0%) patients that stated interest in undergoing orchiectomy (SC+) as an alternative to ADT with the only independent risk factor being "…bother from the number of clinical appointments required for ADT…" Patients most bothered by side effects and cosmetic changes associated with ADT reported lower HRQOL scores on the FACT-P.

CONCLUSIONS

Few men on ADT knew about surgical alternatives, implying that educational deficits may be a significant factor in the decline in the utilization of orchiectomy. Changes in healthcare economics, utilization and delivery brought on by a global pandemic should warrant a fresh look at the use of surgical castration.

Large para-testicular intra-scrotal malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor managed with radical penectomy: A case report

Neurofibromatosis 1 is a relatively rare genetic disease characterized by widespread neurofibromas originating from the peripheral nervous system. Most growths are benign, but some carry a risk of transformation to malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors. Although these growths can be found anywhere in the body, they are rarely found in the male external genitalia. This report discusses a case of a 25-year-old male patient with neurofibromatosis 1 presenting with a scrotal mass found to have a very large para-testicular intra-scrotal malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor that required testicle-sparing radical penectomy.

Knowledge and Attitudes Regarding Surgical Castration in Men Receiving Androgen Deprivation Therapy for Metastatic Prostate Cancer and Their Relationship to Health-Related Quality of Life

OBJECTIVE

To determine the attitudes and education regarding surgical castration in men receiving androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) for metastatic prostate cancer (mCaP).

METHODS

We identified 142 patients receiving ADT for mCaP at our institution without prior orchiectomy who were then sent 2 surveys via mail: (1) A questionnaire to assess knowledge and understanding of ADT treatment alternatives and (2) the functional assessment of cancer therapy - prostate (FACT-P) questionnaire which determines health-related quality of life (HRQOL). Two cohorts were created based on the answer to "would you be interested in surgical orchiectomy?" and demographic, CaP and HRQOL were compared between the surgical castration yes (SC+) and surgical castration no (SC-) cohorts. A second analysis identified predictors of worse HRQOL.

RESULTS

Of 68 (47.9%) patients that responded to the survey, only 39 (59.1%) recalled a discussion regarding treatment alternatives to ADT and only 22 (33.3%) recalled a discussion regarding orchiectomy. There were 24 (40.0%) patients that stated interest in undergoing orchiectomy (SC+) as an alternative to ADT with the only independent risk factor being "…bother from the number of clinical appointments required for ADT…" Patients most bothered by side effects and cosmetic changes associated with ADT reported lower HRQOL scores on the FACT-P.

CONCLUSIONS

Few men on ADT knew about surgical alternatives, implying that educational deficits may be a significant factor in the decline in the utilization of orchiectomy. Changes in healthcare economics, utilization and delivery brought on by a global pandemic should warrant a fresh look at the use of surgical castration.

Long-term Health-related Quality of Life Outcomes Following Radical Cystectomy

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the long-term (>5 years) health-related quality of life (HRQOL) outcomes following radical cystectomy, comparing Indiana pouch (IP), neobladder (NB), and ileal conduit (IC).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The departmental radical cystectomy database was queried to identify patients who underwent radical cystectomy and urinary diversion for bladder cancer between 1991 and 2009 and had not died. Three hundred patients were identified and sent the validated Bladder Cancer Index instrument.

RESULTS

A total of 128 (43%) patients completed the survey. When adjusted for gender, age at surgery, surgeon, and time since surgery, IC and IP patients had significantly better urinary function than NB patients (P = .0013). Sexual bother was less in NB than IP (P = .0387). Among men ≥65 years of age, IC patients had significantly better urinary function (P = .0376) than NB patients (91.6 vs 49.4, respectively). Among men <65 years of age, IC and IP patients (76.0 and 82.8, respectively) had significantly better urinary function than NB patients (50.7) (P = .0199). Among women greater than 65 years, bowel bother was significantly better (P = .0095) for IC patients than IP patients (44.8 vs 69.5, respectively).

CONCLUSION

Urinary diversion type after radical cystectomy affects HRQOL differently in long-term survivors. Age and gender at surgery influenced HRQOL based on diversion procedure. Urinary function but not urinary bother was significantly better in IC and IP compared to NB diversions. Prospective longitudinal studies using validated HRQOL tools will further help guide preoperative diversion choice decisions between patient and surgeon.

Neoadjuvant chemotherapy in urothelial bladder cancer: impact of regimen and variant histology

Aim: We compared the efficacy of methotrexate/vinblastine/doxorubicin/cisplatin (MVAC) versus gemcitabine/cisplatin in urothelial cancer and neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) efficacy in variant histology (VH). Materials & methods: Radical cystectomy patients were retrospectively compared with those who received NACT. Factors associated with survival, pathologic complete response (pCR) and downstaging (pDS) were evaluated in multivariable models. Results: 9% of radical cystectomy patients (84/919) received NACT, with improved survival, pCR and pDS on both regimens. MVAC lead to higher pDS without an increase in pCR. On multivariable analysis, there was a nonsignificant increase in pDS with MVAC. NACT conferred similar responses in squamous and glandular differentiation VH. Conclusion: NACT was associated with improved survival, pCR and pDS. Furthermore, responses to NACT were not dependent on presence of VH.

Robot-Assisted Radical Prostatectomy in Patients with a History of Holmium Laser Enucleation of the Prostate: Feasibility and Evaluation of Initial Outcomes

PURPOSE

To evaluate outcomes of post-holmium laser enucleation of the prostate (HoLEP) robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Using an institutional database, we identified 11 HoLEP patients who subsequently underwent RARP. These were matched 1:2 to RARP patients without a previous transurethral surgical procedure. Variables matched were age, pre-RARP prostate-specific antigen level, and biopsy Gleason score. Urinary continence and sexual function were evaluated by physician questioning, American Urological Association symptom score, and Sexual Health in Men (SHIM) scores. Descriptive statistics were used to compare cohorts.

RESULTS

RARP pathologic outcomes were similar between cases and controls. Twenty-seven percent of previous HoLEP patients reached strict urinary continence (leak free, pad free) at last follow-up compared with 64% of matched controls (P=0.071). The average (range) SHIM score at last follow-up was 2.6 (1-5) for previous HoLEP patients compared with 13.9 (5-20) (P<0.001). The posterior bladder neck and apical dissections were significantly more challenging in the setting of previous HoLEP and necessitated a low threshold for wider resection to minimize positive surgical margins.

CONCLUSIONS

Post-HoLEP RARP is challenging but preliminarily appears safe and feasible when performed by an experienced robotic surgeon. Patients should be counseled regarding expectations of urinary continence and sexual function in this setting.

Can radiologists and urologists reliably determine renal mass histology using standard preoperative computed tomography imaging?

PURPOSE

To determine the extent to which radiologists and urologists can predict histology using multiphasic CT imaging.

METHODS

Patients with a preoperative multiphasic CT undergoing surgery for a renal mass were identified between 2003 and 2013. Tumors >10 cm, locally advanced or metastatic disease, and patients managed by reviewers were excluded. A survey and deidentified scans were provided to reviewers. Sensitivity and accuracy in predicting histology was calculated for each reviewer. Correlation was assessed by the Fleiss kappa coefficient. Multivariable logistic regression determined factors associated with predictive accuracy for final pathology.

RESULTS

There were 120 patients who met criteria. Mean tumor size was 3.3 cm; there were 102 (85%) that were malignant, and 73% of these were clear-cell renal-cell carcinoma (RCC). The most common benign histology was angiomyolipoma (n=10, 56%) followed by oncocytoma (n=5, 28%). Correlation among reviewers was statistically fair for predicting malignant (κ=0.25) and final pathology (κ=0.22). Sensitivity for predicting malignant masses was 90%. Reviewers accurately predicted malignant pathology in 82% of cases and predicted final pathology in 58% of cases. Adjusted for size, scan type, and reviewer, clear-cell RCC vs benign histology was associated with 21 times increased odds of accurate pathologic identification (P<0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Urologists and radiologists were able to accurately identify malignant histology in 82% of cases, although sensitivity for malignant histology was 90%. Developing a preoperative nomogram for identification of clear-cell RCC may be feasible and should be further explored.

R.E.N.A.L. Nephrometry scoring: how well correlated are urologist, radiologist, and collaborator scores?

PURPOSE

R.E.N.A.L. Nephrometry Score (NS) is an imaging-based (CT/MRI) scoring system commonly used by urologists to standardize the reporting of renal masses by enabling quantification of anatomical characteristics. We sought to examine the inter-rater correlation of NS between urologists, radiologists, and tumor-board collaborators.

METHODS

We identified adult patients undergoing partial or radical nephrectomy over 10 years (n=2450). Patients with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD), metastatic disease, masses >10 cm, and studies in which the study urologists or radiologists partook in patient care were excluded. Preoperative imaging was evaluated and patients with multiphasic CT available were included. Scans were provided to the reviewers to evaluate with a R.E.N.A.L. nephrometry questionnaire. Results were analyzed using kappa correlation coefficients.

RESULTS

One hundred twenty patients met inclusion criteria with mean age of 59.5 years. The majority of cases were partial nephrectomies (72%). Eighty-five percent of the tumors were malignant, with 26% having high-grade histology. The mean (standard deviation) overall NS was 6.8 (1.9) with fair correlation among reviewers (κ=0.222). Collaborators had the highest inter-rater correlation, ranging from 0.41 to 0.84 for NS component scores, compared with 0.42-0.85 for radiologists and 0.36-0.86 for urologists. "R" scores were best correlated (κ>0.8). NS correlation ranged between 0.16 and 0.31 for the groups while the NS complexity category correlation ranged between 0.50 and 0.61.

CONCLUSIONS

Despite being naive to NS, inter-radiologist scoring patterns were better correlated than inter-urologist. The urologist and radiologist collaborating in tumor board showed the highest agreement, suggesting that a multidisciplinary approach in the characterization of renal masses may provide benefit to patient management.

Utility of the RENAL nephrometry scoring system in the real world: predicting surgeon operative preference and complication risk

OBJECTIVE

• To evaluate the utility of the RENAL scoring system in predicting operative approach and risk of complications. The RENAL nephrometry scoring system is designed to allow comparison of renal masses based on the radiological features of (R)adius, (E)xophytic/endophytic, (N)earness to collecting system, (A)nterior/posterior and (L)ocation relative to polar lines.

METHODS

• A retrospective review of all patients at a single institution undergoing radical nephrectomy (RN) or partial nephrectomy (PN) for a renal mass between July 2007 and May 2010 was carried out. • Preoperative RENAL score was calculated for each patient. Surgical approach and operative outcomes were then compared with the RENAL score.

RESULTS

• In all, 249 patients underwent either RN (158) or PN (91) with average RENAL scores of 8.9 and 6.3, respectively (P < 0.001). • Patients who underwent RN were more likely to have hilar tumours (64% vs 10%, P < 0.001) than patients who underwent PN, but were no more likely to have posteriorly located tumours (50% each). • There were more complications among patients with RN (58%) vs patients with PN (42%, P= 0.02). • RENAL scores were higher in patients with PN who developed complications than in patients with PN who did not develop complications (6.9 vs 6.0, P= 0.02), with no difference noted among patients with RN developing complications (8.9 vs 8.9, P= 0.99).

CONCLUSION

• The RENAL system accurately predicted surgeon operative preference and risk of complications for patients undergoing PN.