What Is a Partial Nephrectomy?

A partial nephrectomy is a type of kidney surgery where only the tumor and a small margin of healthy tissue are removed, while the rest of the kidney is left intact. It is also called kidney-sparing surgery or nephron-sparing surgery.

This procedure is most often used for:

  • Small tumors (usually less than 4 cm, about 1.6 inches)
  • Tumors located in areas that can be safely separated from the rest of the kidney
  • Patients with only one kidney, reduced kidney function, or other health conditions that require preserving as much kidney tissue as possible

How Is It Performed?

A partial nephrectomy can be done in several ways:

  • Open surgery – through a single larger incision
  • Laparoscopic surgery – using several small cuts and a camera
  • Robot-assisted surgery – a more advanced form of laparoscopy for precision

The surgeon removes the tumor along with a small rim of surrounding tissue to ensure all cancer is removed, while keeping the remaining kidney healthy and functional.

Benefits

  • Preserves kidney function, which is important for long-term health
  • Lower risk of chronic kidney disease compared to removing the whole kidney
  • May allow for better outcomes if another kidney tumor develops later

Risks

Like all surgeries, partial nephrectomy carries some risks, including bleeding, infection, urine leakage, or loss of kidney function if complications arise. However, it is considered very safe when performed by experienced surgeons.

In some cases, the surgeon may switch to a radical nephrectomy during surgery if preserving the kidney is not feasible.

Partial nephrectomy has become the preferred option for many small kidney tumors, especially when early diagnosis allows for conservative treatment.

Looking for more questions?

Visit our Kidney Cancer Questions page for all other topics explained in plain language.

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