Enucleation of renal tumor using a microwave tissue coagulator]

We report our clinical findings on 7 tumors in 5 patients who underwent successful enucleation of renal tumor with a microwave tissue coagulator. All patients presented with incidentally-found renal tumor on ultrasonography or computed tomography. One patient had bilateral renal tumors. The mean size of the renal tumor was 2.5 cm (Range 1.0-5.2 cm). One patient had a tumor larger than 5 cm, and was found to have renal insufficiency preoperatively. Four cases were clinically diagnosed as T1aN0M0. In all patients, the renal tumor was enucleated with a microwave tissue coagulator successfully without renal pedicle clamping. The mean operative time and blood loss were 241 minutes and 788 ml, respectively. The pathological diagnosis was renal cell carcinoma in all cases. Although 2 patients had preoperative renal insufficiency, there were no serious postoperative complications and no evidence of loss of renal function as a result of this operation. Our findings suggest that renal tumors can be enucleated with a microwave tissue coagulator safely and successfully without damaging renal function.