POSTOPERATIVE SURVEILLANCE PROTOCOL FOR PATIENTS WITH LOCALIZED AND LOCALLY ADVANCED RENAL CELL CARCINOMA BASED ON A VALIDATED PROGNOSTIC NOMOGRAM AND RISK GROUP STRATIFICATION SYSTEM

Abstract

Significant differences in incidence and time to recurrence following surgical resection for RCC mandates unique surveillance protocols for patients in each of the UISS risk groups. LR group patients should be followed for at least 5 years, whereas IR and HR group patients require longer surveillance. HR group patients require more stringent abdominal surveillance, whereas LR group patients should emphasize the chest. Patients with nodal disease also require stringent followup. Patients undergoing partial nephrectomy for localized disease can be followed according to the same UISS risk group based protocol.