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Login to My HealthUSC Urologic Surgeons Find Improved Outcomes For Kidney Tumor Surgery
Several studies published in top medical journals by USC surgeons have found that surgical treatment of kidney cancer is not the daunting prospect it once was.
Three papers, published in the New England Journal of Medicine and the Journal of Urology, indicate that kidney cancer patients can look forward to a speedier recovery and brighter future. The papers were authored by a team led by Inderbir S. Gill, M.D., director of the USC Institute of Urology at the Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California (USC).
The studies indicate that outcomes of minimally invasive treatments for patients with organ-confined kidney tumors have improved dramatically.
"We are now able to remove many of these cancers through tiny keyhole cuts to the abdomen," said Gill. "In a majority of the cases, we can even save the kidney, and remove only the cancer." Since no muscle is cut and blood loss is minimal, patients experience less pain and a shorter recovery time, he noted.
In their New England Journal of Medicine paper titled "Small Renal Mass" (N Engl J Med 2010 February:362; 624-34), Gill and colleagues provide an expert overview of the current state of knowledge regarding small kidney cancers. Written for practicing physicians, the paper highlights modern diagnostic tests and the latest treatment outcomes.
In the Journal of Urology (J Urol. 2010 January; 183:34-41), Gill and colleagues published the world's largest single-surgeon experience with 800 patients with kidney tumors undergoing laparoscopic partial nephrectomy (a popular minimally invasive technique to remove a tumor while saving the kidney). The most critical part of this procedure is clamping (stopping) the blood supply to the kidney to create a bloodless operative field. Gill's team has pioneered the laparoscopic/robotic technique, which has dramatically decreased the clamp time.
"The shorter the clamp time, the better the kidney function," said Gill. "We deliver the fastest clamp times in the world, thus providing the best possible kidney function. As a result, patients no longer need to lose the kidney to lose the cancer."
Finally, in the March 2010 issue of the Journal of Urology (J Urol 2010:183; 889-895), the USC team presented the world's largest follow-up data for laparoscopic renal cryoablation of up to 11 years. Cryoablation, a technique to freeze and kill the tumor, is a good option for destroying kidney tumors in patients who are not candidates for laparoscopic partial nephrectomy. These two latter papers present the experience of Gill's team at USC and the Cleveland Clinic. Co-authors include Monish Aron, M.D. and Mihir Desai, M.D., both renowned robotic surgeons at USC.
The USC Institute of Urology includes 23 full-time faculty and more than 30 post-graduate residents and fellows dedicated to world-class patient care and research. The Institute comprises eight clinical centers, including the Center for Comprehensive Urologic Oncology, Center for Robotics and Advanced Laparoscopic Surgery, Center for Pediatric Urology, Image-Guided Surgery Center and Center for Female Urology, among others. The USC Institute of Urology surgeons are world leaders and pioneers in robotic/laparoscopic and open surgery for cancers of the kidney, prostate and bladder. USC urologic surgeons are at the forefront of developing cutting-edge treatments such as scar-free "belly-button" surgery and novel organ-sparing focal treatments for prostate cancer.
For more information on the USC Institute of Urology, visit the web site at http://www.uscurology.com.
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