Treatment of Kidney Tumors in Albania

Introduction: Kidney tumors, predominantly renal cell carcinoma (RCC), continue to pose a clinical challenge due to their asymptomatic nature in early stages and variable biological behavior. Methods and Results: Our retrospective study included 200 patients who underwent surgical treatment for RCC between 2015 and 2024. Patients were followed at 3, 12, and 24 months using the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group Performance Status (ECOG-PS) scale. Cox regression compared open radical nephrectomy (ORN) and open nephron-sparing surgery (NSS). ECOG-PS score increased gradually: baseline (0.07±0.252), 3 months (0.02±0.149), 12 months (0.20±0.505), 24 months (0.24±0.570), and 36 months (0.44±0.990) (P<0.01). Kaplan-Meier curves showed better survival for tumors <4 cm. Cox regression analysis indicated a lower mortality rate with open NSS (HR = 0.148, 95% CI; 0.019–1.126), although the difference was not statistically significant. No significant difference in creatinine levels was observed between groups. Conclusion: Patients with smaller renal tumors typically exhibit more favorable survival outcomes than those with larger masses. Current trends in kidney tumor management emphasize the use of less invasive surgical techniques, which aim to achieve comparable oncologic control while preserving overall renal function.