Abstract:Objective To study the effects of partial nephrectomy on the renal functions of patients with T1a renal cell carcinoma. Methods Eighty patients with T1a renal cell carcinoma were included. They were divided into partial-nephrectomy group and radical-nephrectomy group according to the stochastic indicator method. Renal functions were compared between both groups after 12-month follow-up. Results The operation time in the partial-nephrectomy group was significantly longer than that in the radical-nephrectomy group (P < 0.05). There was no difference in intraoperative blood loss between the two groups (P > 0.05). Glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and endogenous creatinine clearance (Ccr) significantly decreased, while urea nitrogen (BUN) increased after operation in both groups. Three months after operation, GFR, Ccr and BUN gradually recovered, and had no apparent change thereafter during follow-up. GFR and Ccr were significantly higher in the partial-nephrectomy group 3, 6 and 12 months after operation than those in the radical-nephrectomy group at the corresponding time (P < 0.05). BUN in the partial-nephrectomy group 3, 6 and 12 months was lower than that in the radical-nephrectomy group at the corresponding time, the differences were statistically significant (P < 0.05). Conclusions The partial nephrectomy can keep better renal function with a lower incidence of renal insufficiency, which is an effective surgical treatment for stage T1a renal cancer.