Comparison of robot-assisted laparoscopic partial nephrectomy with laparoscopic cryoablation in the treatment of localised renal tumours: A propensity score-matched comparison of long-term outcomes

Abstract

Preserving renal function and controlling oncological outcomes are pertinent when manag-ing renal neoplasms. Cryoablation is the recommended treatment only for clinical T1a stage renal tumour. Here, we compared the outcomes of robot-assisted laparoscopic partial nephrectomy (RaPN) and laparoscopic cryoablation (LCA) in the treatment of patients with localised T1-T2 renal tumours. Overall, 86 patients who received RaPN and 78 patients underwent LCA were included in this study. The intraoperative, postoperative, and oncological outcomes in the LCA group were non-inferior to the RaPN group. Moreover, LCA demonstrated shorter operative time (267.45 ± 104.53 min vs. 138.56 ± 45.28 min, p < 0.001), lower blood loss (300.56 ± 360.73 mL vs. 30.73 ± 50.31 mL, p < 0.001), and slight renal function deterioration because of the reduced invasiveness, without compromising on the oncological outcomes.