It may be possible to remove only the cancerous tissue and part of the kidney if the tumour is small and confined to the very top or bottom of the kidney. A partial nephrectomy may be the procedure of choice for patients with RCC in both kidneys and for those who have only one functioning kidney. Partial nephrectomy may better preserve long term renal function compared to removing the entire kidney. This is certainly the case if a patient has other diseases that can affect kidney function in the future (such as diabetes), or if the opposite kidney is not working properly, has never formed or has already been removed.
