Prognostic parameters in renal cell carcinoma--a new approach.

The prognostic potential of the parameters TNM staging, Robson staging, grading, cell type, growth pattern, and patient age was investigated for 431 patients with operated renal cell carcinoma (RCC). In the individual analyses, staging and grading attained the best results, whereby Robson staging proved to be superior to TNM staging by comparison. Morphological parameters had a more modest effect on the prognosis, but this should not be underestimated. A scale of points based on a comparative biometric evaluation of the various parameters was devised. From this scale, three significantly distinct prognostic groups evolved with a correct prognosis of over 80% on the average for an individual case. In comparison with other proposals for assessing prognosis for RCCs, the suggested scale of points had the greatest prognostic potential.