[What is the role of active surveillance for small renal masses?]

Abstract

Incidence of small renal masses (SRM) T1a is increasing in every age group. In relation to their characteristics, treatments seem to become less invasive. This article summarizes data about Watchful Waiting. A literature review based on Pubmed and keywords "petites masses rénales", "small renal masses", "rein", "kidney", "tumeur", "tumor", "surveillance", "watchful waiting" was done. Fifty-eight english and french articles including cohort-following and meta-analysis were selected. Considering indolence and harmless of the SRM, watchful waiting is nowadays a valid therapeutic option: in most of the series is tumoral growing lower than 0.40cm per year, metastatic evolution approaches 1 to 2% (except in the Kouba et al. study with 5,7%) and disease-free survival is 100%. Nevertheless, this option seems to be appropriate after carefully selection of the patients (age, conciliance, comorbidities, imperative indications…) and the tumors (tumor size, localization, histology…). Watchful waiting is a promising alternative after selection of the SRM. Large-scale and long-term studies will precise the global cost and modalities of this therapeutic option.