Surveillance for Small Renal Masses
Author Information
Author(s): S. Klaver, J. Joniau, H. Van Poppel
Primary Institution: University Hospital Gasthuisberg
Hypothesis
Can surveillance be a viable treatment option for small renal masses?
Conclusion
Surveillance of small renal masses is recommended only for elderly or infirm patients with limited life expectancy, while active treatment is preferred for others.
Supporting Evidence
- 74% of patients with small renal masses showed growth over a 36-month follow-up.
- Only one third of small renal masses grew during surveillance.
- Initial tumor size did not predict growth rate.
Takeaway
Some small kidney lumps can be watched instead of treated right away, especially in older people who might not handle surgery well.
Methodology
Literature search of Medline and additional references regarding surveillance of small renal masses.
Potential Biases
Potential bias due to the retrospective nature of many included studies.
Limitations
Many studies are small and retrospective, with incomplete pathology data.
Participant Demographics
Patients included were primarily elderly or infirm individuals with small renal masses.
Statistical Information
P-Value
0.4504
Confidence Interval
1.17–1.65
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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