Partial nephrectomy is the removal of a cancerous kidney mass that is most often 1.6 inches (4 centimeters) or less. When a kidney tumor or kidney mass is found to be cancerous such as renal cell carcinoma and the size of the cancer covers an area of 1.6 inches or less our experienced team of Ivy League urologists have the skills and experience to perform all three kidney surgery techniques of partial nephrectomy or a cryoablation of the kidney mass.

Partial nephrectomy is the preferred surgical solution because once the cancer has been removed the kidney can be closed up (repaired/reconstructed) and then go back to working order thus maintaining two working kidneys. If an open partial nephrectomy is deemed the appropriate procedure it is usually because the kidney function is already impaired and strong efforts to save as much of the working kidney are the priority. If the kidney tumor is large then an open partial nephrectomy can be planned since only on an open partial nephrectomy, ice can be placed on the kidney, which has the benefit of causing less damage to the remaining part of the kidney. The surgical incision for an open partial nephrectomy is 6 to 7 inches long while the length of time for the kidney surgery is 3 to 3 ½ hours.

Partial nephrectomy may also be performed with laparoscopic instruments the advantages are: less post procedure pain, less blood loss, quicker recovery and shorter hospital time. To qualify for a laparoscopic partial nephrectomy the kidney mass needs to be 1.6 inches or less, the kidneys are in good working order, overall health is good, and the kidney tumor is not in the middle of the kidney. At the Miami urology center your preferences and concerns will be addressed by our urologists and our medical staff to help you fill in the who, what, where, and why’s that will help you make clear your understanding of your specific circumstance, your options and what you can expect in the near and far future.

Partial nephrectomy has allowed many patients to retain their kidney function thus advancing medicines goal of healthy longevity. For years the Columbia University Department of Urology has been on the leading edge of urologic oncology which has helped bring us the next two new methods of stopping the cancer locally while keeping the rest of the kidney functioning.