Renal cancer in adults. Report of a series of 60 cases.

The authors report a series of 60 cases of renal cancer observed over a 10-year period. Patients consisted of 35 women (58%) and 25 men (42%), with a mean age of 52 years (range: 21-72 years). The clinical features were polymorphic, dominated by loin pain (76%), haematuria (75%), a lumbar mass (46%), alteration of the general state (30%). The diagnosis was established by ultrasonography in 58 patients and CT scan in 38 patients. The mean tumour diameter was 11.5 cm (5-25 cm) and two cases presented bilateral tumours. The tumour was located in the upper pole in 40% of cases and was mid-renal in 30% of cases. The time to diagnosis ranged from 2 months to 3 years. Staging reflected the advanced stage of the cancer. Treatment was surgical for 53 patients (88%). A lumbar incision was generally performed (83%). The surgical procedure consisted of nephrectomy and regional or hilar lymph node dissection. Nephrectomy was simple for 27% of patients, radical for 69% of patients and partial for 4% of patients. The postoperative course was marked by one death due to pulmonary embolism, and a stercoral fistula in 2 patients. Histological examination of the specimen showed clear eel adenocarcinoma in 92% of cases. The tumour weight was often considerable, with a maximum of 3.750 kg. The lymph nodes removed were invaded in 50% of cases. The mean follow-up was 46 months (12 to 120 months). Follow-up was normal at 3 years for 23 patients (43%) and at 10 years for 4 patients (8%). Tumour recurrence in the renal compartment was observed in 3 patients after 3 years. Asynchronous metastases occurred in 10 patients (23%). The mean interval to metastases was 20 months (4 to 36 months).