BACKGROUND: The incidence of localized renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is on the rise among individuals aged 70 and older. While the gold standard for treatment remains surgical resection, some elderly and frail patients with comorbidities are not eligible for this procedure. In selected cases, percutaneous thermal ablation, such as cryotherapy, microwave and radiofrequency, offers less invasive options. General anesthesia is sometimes necessary for such treatments, but most of the procedures can be conducted using mild or deep conscious sedation. This approach is preferably recommended for small cT1a tumors situated at a distance from the renal hilum and/or ureter. Active surveillance remains an alternative in the case of small low grade RCC although it may induce anxiety in certain patients. Recent research has highlighted the potentials of stereotactic ablative body radiotherapy (SABR) as a noninvasive, well-tolerated, and effective treatment for small renal tumors. This narrative review aims to explore recent advances in SABR for localized RCC, including appropriate patient selection, treatment modalities and administration, as well as efficacy and tolerance assessment.
METHODS: We conducted a literature review using the terms [kidney cancer], [renal cell carcinoma], [stereotactic radiotherapy], [SBRT], and [SABR] in the Medline, PubMed, and Embase databases, focusing on prospective and relevant retrospective studies published in English.
RESULTS: Studies report local control rates ranging from 70% to 100% with SABR, highlighting its efficacy in treating RCC. The decline in glomerular filtration rate (GFR) is approximately -5 to -17mL/min over the years following SABR. Common toxicities are rare, primarily CTCAE grade 1, include fatigue, nausea, chest or back pain, diarrhea, or gastritis.
CONCLUSIONS: Stereotactic ablative body radiotherapy (SABR) may be considered as a viable option for patients with localized RCC who are not suitable candidates for surgery with a high local control rate and a favorable safety profile. This approach should be discussed in a multidisciplinary meeting and results from ongoing clinical trials are awaited.
METHODS:

BACKGROUND: Robot-assisted surgery is practiced more and more frequently in urology. Besides its place in prostatectomy for cancer, it also concerns partial nephrectomy (NP), in the treatment of renal tumors. The objective of this review is to compare the robot-assisted approach with laparoscopic or open approaches in partial nephrectomy in terms of functional or oncological outcomes and per- and postoperative complications.
METHODS: A systematic review of the literature published from 2009 was carried out on PubMed. Clinical studies or meta-analyzes comparing robot-assisted surgery versus laparoscopic or open surgery in the NP domain were used.
RESULTS: The clinical data presented in this review of the literature are based mainly on meta-analyzes of comparative studies. Patients operated with robotic assistance (NPAR) had significantly fewer postoperative complications than patients operated by open (RR 0.61; P=0.0002) or laparoscopic surgery (RR 0.84; P=0.007). Positive margins, at equivalent pathological stages, are comparable to the open and appear to be lower than the laparoscopic surgery (RR 0.53; P<0.001). After NP, the change in postoperative glomerular filtration rate (GFR) appears to be identical between the 3 pathways. Hot ischemia time is significantly shorter for NPAR compared to NPL. Finally, the estimated blood loss and length of stay are less severe in patients operated by NPAR compared to those operated by open surgery.
CONCLUSIONS: Robot-assisted surgery offers the same oncological results (in the short and medium term) and appears to improve functional outcomes and morbidity. However, these findings need to be carefully analyzed, due to the low level of evidence from the studies presented and included in the meta-analyzes, and the lack of randomized clinical studies.

OBJECTIVE: To focus on indications and results of ablative treatments (cyoablation, radiofrequency) for small renal masses, a bibliographic research was conducted in MedLine database using terms of \"ablative treatment\", \"cryotherapy\", \"radiofrequency\", \"kidney cancer\", \"renal cell carcinoma\". Sixty-four articles were selected.
RESULTS: Carcinologic outcomes seem to be better with cryoablation than with radiofrequency. Available results have to be balanced according to surgical approach, teams\' experience and duration of follow-up. Tumour\'s size and central localization are the main factors of failure. The size of 3cm is the most generally validated. Hospital stay and complications seem to be better with ablative therapies than with surgical approach, especially with percutaneous approach. The renal function preservation appears to be better with ablative therapies. It could be an interesting alternative to partial nephrectomy for small masses, in particular for fragile patients or in particular indications (multifocal tumors, in case of solitary kidney or transplanted kidney). The indications in elderly people must be proposed with care after the comorbidities have been evaluated.
CONCLUSIONS: Indications of ablative treatment for small renal masses improve, but the gold standard treatment remains partial nephrectomy and indications must be individually discussed. Other ablative treatments are under-development, needing further studies.

The sliding-clip renorraphy technique using Hem-o-lok(®) clips for parenchymal closure in partial nephrectomy is largely used in laparoscopic, robotic and sometimes open surgery. We present here a case of massive migration of the clips after open partial nephrectomy. We discuss the imaging characteristics of those clips: not visible on plain X-ray, low density on computed tomography, before reviewing previously published cases.