[Synchronous oligometastatic renal cell carcinoma-what is the role of surgery?]

BACKGROUND: Long-term remission can be achieved by surgery in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC), without chronic toxicity due to systemic treatment. Data on metastasectomy are mostly based on observations of metachronous metastasis. However, it is unclear whether patients with synchronous oligometastasis may also benefit from surgery alone as an alternative to highly effective systemic treatment combined with resection of the primary tumor.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: The authors performed an unstructured literature search in PubMed including systematic reviews and meta-analyses. Results are discussed in regard of the current data and clinical practice. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: Although there is no uniform definition for oligometastasis in mRCC, cytoreductive nephrectomy in selected patients seems to be mandatory before metastasectomy is performed in primary oligometastatic RCC. In particular, in those patients with oligometastasis of the lung, bone, central nervous system, liver, adrenal gland, and thyroid, metastasectomy appears to be an important therapeutic option. Ultimately, among the therapeutic options, surgery is also an important therapeutic approach in primary oligometastatic mRCC. A balanced consideration between surgery, other local therapies, and modern systemic treatment demands interdisciplinary decision-making that takes into account the patients' preference.