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Increasingly, small incidental noncystic renal masses are identified on abdominal imaging done for other reasons. Because randomized trials comparing the various management options for small renal masses generally are lacking, observational studies provide most of the available data.
For example, in a new case series from Dallas, researchers report long-term outcomes for 112 small tumors in 106 patients who were treated with radiofrequency ablation, an alternative to nephrectomy or active surveillance. Mean tumor size was 2.5 cm. During median follow-up of nearly 7 years, there were 10 recurrences (7 local and 3 metastatic). In the three cases with metastatic recurrence, initial tumor size was ≥3 cm. About half the patients have been followe…