Management of c/pT3a Renal Cell Carcinoma in Light of EAU Guidelines

Introduction: The diagnosis and management of cT3a renal cell carcinoma with perirenal fat invasion (cT3a-PFI) remain complex due to the lack of standardized imaging protocols and the ambiguity in surgical decision-making. The aim of this review is to analyze this management approach primarily throu...

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Main Author: Samir BOURAS
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: university of basrah 2025-06-01
Series:Basrah Journal of Surgery
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Online Access:https://bjsrg.uobasrah.edu.iq/article_187496.html
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author Samir BOURAS
author_facet Samir BOURAS
author_sort Samir BOURAS
collection DOAJ
description Introduction: The diagnosis and management of cT3a renal cell carcinoma with perirenal fat invasion (cT3a-PFI) remain complex due to the lack of standardized imaging protocols and the ambiguity in surgical decision-making. The aim of this review is to analyze this management approach primarily through European and French guidelines. Methods: A literature search was conducted using PubMed, with keywords including "Renal cell carcinoma," "cT3a," "pT3a," and "perirenal fat invasion." Studies published in English between 2000 and 2024 were included. After screening, 42 articles were selected based on relevance, study design, and level of evidence. Results: Studies report better recurrence-free survival (RFS) and cancer-specific survival (CSS) for cT3a-PFI compared to sinus or vascular invasion. However, preoperative diagnosis remains challenging, with imaging features such as tumor contour irregularity showing low specificity for tumors >4 cm. Partial nephrectomy (PN) offers comparable oncological outcomes to radical nephrectomy (RN) for tumors ≤7 cm, while RN is preferred for larger tumors due to technical complexity and risk of positive margins. The favorable prognosis of cT3a-PFI ≤4 cm suggests these tumors may warrant reclassification within the TNM staging system. Discussion: The retrospective nature of most studies introduces selection bias, limiting the robustness of findings. Despite advancements, the lack of standardized diagnostic criteria remains a major barrier. Future research should refine surgical guidelines and explore advanced techniques such as radiomics and artificial intelligence. Conclusion: An individualized surgical approach tailored to tumor size and technical feasibility remains key to optimizing outcomes in cT3a-PFI RCC. Prospective studies are needed to address limitations and improve management.
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spelling doaj-art-3b3e0fbedf414c7c9f3d11f6362a5afc2025-08-20T04:02:09Zenguniversity of basrahBasrah Journal of Surgery1683-35892409-501X2025-06-013114454https://doi.org/10.33762/basjsurg.2025.157310.1106Management of c/pT3a Renal Cell Carcinoma in Light of EAU GuidelinesSamir BOURAS0Associate Professor. Department of Urology Ferhat Abbas University Setif AlgeriaIntroduction: The diagnosis and management of cT3a renal cell carcinoma with perirenal fat invasion (cT3a-PFI) remain complex due to the lack of standardized imaging protocols and the ambiguity in surgical decision-making. The aim of this review is to analyze this management approach primarily through European and French guidelines. Methods: A literature search was conducted using PubMed, with keywords including "Renal cell carcinoma," "cT3a," "pT3a," and "perirenal fat invasion." Studies published in English between 2000 and 2024 were included. After screening, 42 articles were selected based on relevance, study design, and level of evidence. Results: Studies report better recurrence-free survival (RFS) and cancer-specific survival (CSS) for cT3a-PFI compared to sinus or vascular invasion. However, preoperative diagnosis remains challenging, with imaging features such as tumor contour irregularity showing low specificity for tumors >4 cm. Partial nephrectomy (PN) offers comparable oncological outcomes to radical nephrectomy (RN) for tumors ≤7 cm, while RN is preferred for larger tumors due to technical complexity and risk of positive margins. The favorable prognosis of cT3a-PFI ≤4 cm suggests these tumors may warrant reclassification within the TNM staging system. Discussion: The retrospective nature of most studies introduces selection bias, limiting the robustness of findings. Despite advancements, the lack of standardized diagnostic criteria remains a major barrier. Future research should refine surgical guidelines and explore advanced techniques such as radiomics and artificial intelligence. Conclusion: An individualized surgical approach tailored to tumor size and technical feasibility remains key to optimizing outcomes in cT3a-PFI RCC. Prospective studies are needed to address limitations and improve management.https://bjsrg.uobasrah.edu.iq/article_187496.htmlrccc/pt3a stagingperirenal fat invasionsurgeryoncological outcomes
spellingShingle Samir BOURAS
Management of c/pT3a Renal Cell Carcinoma in Light of EAU Guidelines
Basrah Journal of Surgery
rcc
c/pt3a staging
perirenal fat invasion
surgery
oncological outcomes
title Management of c/pT3a Renal Cell Carcinoma in Light of EAU Guidelines
title_full Management of c/pT3a Renal Cell Carcinoma in Light of EAU Guidelines
title_fullStr Management of c/pT3a Renal Cell Carcinoma in Light of EAU Guidelines
title_full_unstemmed Management of c/pT3a Renal Cell Carcinoma in Light of EAU Guidelines
title_short Management of c/pT3a Renal Cell Carcinoma in Light of EAU Guidelines
title_sort management of c pt3a renal cell carcinoma in light of eau guidelines
topic rcc
c/pt3a staging
perirenal fat invasion
surgery
oncological outcomes
url https://bjsrg.uobasrah.edu.iq/article_187496.html
work_keys_str_mv AT samirbouras managementofcpt3arenalcellcarcinomainlightofeauguidelines