Follow‐up guidelines for nonmetastatic renal cell carcinoma based on the occurrence of metastases after radical nephrectomy

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Abstract
To define guidelines for the follow-up management of nonmetastatic renal cell carcinoma (RCC), by assessing tumour recurrences and the clinical course in patients who had undergone radical nephrectomy. The records of 187 patients with pT1–3, N0–X, M0 RCC who underwent radical nephrectomy between 1982 and 1997 were reviewed prospectively. Clinicopathological variables were compared with the time of first recurrence, site of metastasis and reason for diagnosis. Metastases were diagnosed in 98 sites in 56 of the 187 patients (30%). The risk for developing metastases increased with stage; 80% of the patients had their metastases diagnosed within 3 years (median 14.5 months) after nephrectomy. The time to first diagnosis was longer for patients with pT1 tumours and for those with skeletal metastases. The cause-specific 5-year survival rate for pT1 tumours was 95%, for pT2 87% and for pT3 tumours 37%. All patients with diploid pT1–2 RCC survived, having a survival advantage over those with aneuploid pT1–2 tumours (P=0.018). Also, pT1–2 tumours of < 5 cm were associated with better survival rates. Among 74 patients with pT3 tumours, 45 got metastases; DNA ploidy in these tumours did not influence survival. Of 30 patients with lung metastases, 28 were diagnosed during follow-up, while 25 of 26 other metastatic sites were diagnosed because of symptoms. The risk for tumour progression depends mainly on stage; these results indicate no need for follow-up in patients with diploid pT1–2 tumours or with aneuploid pT1 tumours of < 5 cm. For patients with aneuploid pT1–2 tumours of > 5 cm and pT3 tumours, follow-up is indicated.