Extended Lymphadenectomy during Radical Nephrectomy for Renal Cell Carcinoma. A Prospective Study

Abstract

The role and extension of lymphadenectomy during radical nephrectomy for renal cell cancer still remain a matter of debate. From June 1989 to March 1992, 137 consecutive extended lymphadenectomies were performed in patients undergoing radical nephrectomy for renal cell cancer at the Department of Urology of Padua. Ten patients (7.3%) had a pathologically proved nodal involvement. Only 2 patients had a distant nodal involvement in the absence of metastases to hilar nodes. Both patients with microscopic metastases had massive involvement of hilar nodes. Due to short median follow-up no clinical consideration on survival can be drawn.