Kidney Cancer: Surgeons at NMRRC Perform a Complex Organ-Preserving Surgery

A week ago, a 65-year-old woman with a large tumor was admitted to the N. Lopatkin Scientific Research Institute of Urology and Interventional Radiology – branch of the Federal State Budgetary Institution of the “National Medical Research Radiological Centre” of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation. The patient had rarely undergone routine check-ups in her hometown, so doctors could not determine how long she had been living with this tumor.

Often, in the early stages of tumor development, the disease progresses without symptoms and appears in more advanced cases. Our patient had been experiencing back pain for a long time, which ultimately prompted her to seek medical help. Upon examination, specialists discovered a 10 cm tumor occupying almost the entire kidney. To put this in context, a healthy kidney in an adult typically measures between 10 and 12 centimeters in length. Local doctors had recommended removing the organ, but the patient decided to seek an alternative solution and independently contacted the National Medical Research Radiological Centre.

At the Scientific Research Institute of Urology, she underwent a thorough examination and there was another tumor discovered in her right kidney. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography revealed that the function of both kidneys was satisfactory, giving doctors hope that the organs could be preserved.

The tumor resection surgery was performed by the Head of the Oncological Urology Department at the Scientific Research Institute of Urology and Interventional Radiology Alexander Kachmazov with urologist Vladislav Stakanov. They successfully removed the tumors while preserving both kidneys. “The main challenge of such operations lies in the high blood supply to the kidneys, which increases the risk of blood loss. To prevent this, we temporarily clamped the renal vessels,” explained Alexander Kachmazov.

The resection of the left kidney took only 18 minutes, an excellent outcome for such operations. The resection of the right kidney, owing to the smaller size of the tumor, took just three minutes. The day after the surgery, the patient was already able to walk on her own. Attending physician Vladislav Stakanov noted, “The recovery period largely depends on the patient’s mindset. Our patient is a prime example of this. She promised to maintain a positive attitude and follow all recommendations, and she truly did”.