NSS Offers Better Renal Function Preservation

SAN DIEGO—Nephron-sparing surgery (NSS) for small renal masses may be more effective in reducing serum creatinine levels compared with radical nephrectomy (RN), according to a study presented at the American Urological Association 2013 annual meeting.

Using data from the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer trial 30904, Emil Scosyrev, PhD, and colleagues at the University of Rochester Medical Center studied 258 patients who were randomized to undergo RN and 254 were randomized to undergo NSS.

The mean serum creatinine level after surgery was 1.411 mg/dL in RN patients and 1.153 in NSS, a significant difference of 0.258 mg/dL. Over 15 years of follow-up (median  6.7 years for serum creatinine), researcher found an estimated average rate of change of -0.008 mg/dL per year with RN and 0.004 mg/dL per year with NSS, a significant difference between the treatment arms.

From the June 01, 2013 Issue of Renal and Urology News