Treament options for kidney cancer localized to the kidney include:

 

Historically the standard treatment for renal cell carcinoma was radical nephrectomy (removal of the entire kidney, adrenal gland and adjacent lymph nodes).  However, studies have shown that in select cases the tumor can be removed sparing most or all the normal kidney.  Partial nephrectomy (removal of tumor only) was developed in order avoid the risks of removing the entire kidney, specifically renal failure.  Both radical and partial nephrectomy can done through an open incision or through smaller incisions utilizing minimally invasive surgery.  The current minimally invasive techniques for radical and partial nephrectomy are laparoscopy and robot assisted surgery.  The benefits of minimally invasive surgery are decreased post operative pain, shorter hospitalization and quicker return to normal activity.