Articles · Blood in the urine and cancer
Partial or radical nephrectomy: what's the difference?
A partial nephrectomy removes the tumor and keeps the healthy part of the kidney.
Partial nephrectomy
A partial nephrectomy removes the tumor and keeps the healthy part of the kidney.
Radical nephrectomy
A radical nephrectomy removes the whole kidney.
Kidney function
When it's possible, keeping kidney tissue helps protect long-term kidney function.
How the choice is made
The choice depends on tumor size, location, and your overall kidney health. Many of these surgeries can be done robotically.
Next step
If you've been told you have a kidney tumor, schedule a visit to talk through which approach fits.
Request an appointment at Advanced Urology.
Questions to bring to your visit
- How large is the tumor, and where is it?
- How is my overall kidney health?
- Could my surgery be done robotically?
What happens at your visit with us?
Bring your CT or MRI reports and any recent kidney blood tests. Our urologists review the images with you, show where the tumor sits, and talk through whether part of the kidney can be kept.
When should I call us?
Call us soon after a scan shows a kidney mass, or if you would like a second opinion on a kidney surgery recommended elsewhere. Bring the report and, if you can obtain them, the images to 11660 Alpharetta Hwy Ste 700 so our urologists can review the same study. Fever, sudden severe side pain, or inability to urinate belongs in an emergency room.
How do our urologists approach this?
Our urologists consider the tumor, the health of both kidneys and your overall health together, and they keep your referring physician informed along the way. At the visit they sit with the images and explain whether more scans, a biopsy or an operation on part or all of the kidney is the next step.
Our urologists, physician assistants and nurse practitioners see adults from Alpharetta, Roswell, Milton, Crabapple and Mountain Park at our Alpharetta / Roswell office.
Related video
Dr. A. Dev Mally of Advanced Urology talks about kidney cancer:
Related reading from our team
Related care: kidney cancer care at our Alpharetta / Roswell office.
Read more from Advanced Urology: Robotic surgery for kidney cancer · Kidney cancer
For education, not medical advice. Every treatment has risks and benefits. Emergency? Call 911 or go to an emergency room.
Whenever you’re ready, our Alpharetta / Roswell team would be glad to hear from you.