Treatment of Kidney Tumors in Albania

ORIGINAL ARTICLE
Aurel Janko, Orjent Hasanaj, Dritan Reovica, Fatjona Pupuleku Kraja, Fredi Bedalli, Haxhire, Zamira Hysenaj, Aldo Shpuza

 
For citation: Janko A, Hasanaj O, Reovica D, Kraja FP, Bedalli F, Gani H, Hysenaj Z, Shpuza A. Treatment of Kidney Tumors in Albania. International Journal of Biomedicine. 2025;15(4):695-699. doi:10.21103/Article15(4)_OA8
 
Originally published December 5, 2025

Abstract: 

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.

Keywords: 
renal cell carcinoma • open radical nephrectomy • nephron-sparing surgery
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Received August 26, 2025.
Accepted November 25, 2025.
©2025 International Medical Research and Development Corporation.