Researchers at Fox Chase Cancer Center have found that partial nephrectomy appears to have a statistically significant survival benefit when compared with radical nephrectomy for patients older than 66 with renal cell carcinomas that are 4 cm or smaller. However, the authors noted that this benefit decreased with time, and little benefit was seen at 5 and 10 years after the procedure.

Abstract: Journal of Urology, December 2012.