Prognostic Evaluation of the Site of Invasion in Pathological Stage T3a Renal Cell Carcinoma.

BACKGROUND/AIM To investigate the prognostic values of fat invasion (FI) and renal vein invasion (RVI) in pT3a renal cell carcinoma (RCC), as single factors or concomitant presence. PATIENTS AND METHODS We retrospectively reviewed the data of 173 patients who underwent radical or partial nephrectomy for RCC in our Institution. RESULTS At a median follow-up time of 48 months, patients with RVI showed significantly increased risk of disease recurrence and worse cancer-specific survival (CSS) when compared to those with FI (p=0.007, p=0.022, respectively). Having combined RVI and FI did not show inferior prognosis compared to those with RVI only. In multivariable analysis, RVI was an independent factor for disease recurrence (HR=2.06, 95% CI=1.10-3.87, p=0.024) and CSS (HR=2.46, 95% CI=1.01-6.0, p=0.048). CONCLUSION For patients with T3a renal tumors, RVI was associated with inferior prognosis compared to those with FI.