In this meta-analysis, the results from 101,153 patients with renal cell carcinoma (RCC) from 42 studies were assessed for the risk of recurrence in patients with positive margins after partial nephrectomy (nephron-sparing surgery).

The analysis showed that a positive surgical margin was associated with an increased risk of local recurrence (high certainty), metastasis (moderate certainty), overall relapse (high certainty), overall mortality (moderate certainty), and may be associated with increased cancer-specific mortality (low certainty).

In conclusion, patients with a positive surgical margin following partial nephrectomy should be advised that they may require additional treatment for their kidney cancer.

Read more in Urology here