Kidney cancers account for approximately 2% of all newly diagnosed cancer in 2020. Among the primary treatment options for kidney cancer, urologist may choose between radical or partial nephrectomy, or ablative therapies. Nowadays, robotic-assisted partial nephrectomy (RAPN) for the management of renal cancers has gained popularity, up to being considered the gold standard. However, RAPN is a challenging procedure with a steep learning curve.
In this narrative review, different imaging technologies used to guide and aid RAPN are discussed.
Three-dimensional visualization technology has been extensively discussed in RAPN, showing its value in enhancing robotic-surgery training, patient counseling, surgical planning, and intraoperative guidance. Intraoperative imaging technologies such as intracorporeal ultrasound, near-infrared fluorescent imaging, and intraoperative pathological examination can also be used to improve the outcomes following RAPN. Finally, artificial intelligence may play a role in the field of RAPN soon.
RAPN is a complex surgery; however, many imaging technologies may play an important role in facilitating it.
Asian journal of urology. 2022 Jun 01 [Epub]
Stefano Puliatti, Ahmed Eissa, Enrico Checcucci, Pietro Piazza, Marco Amato, Stefania Ferretti, Simone Scarcella, Juan Gomez Rivas, Mark Taratkin, Josè Marenco, Ines Belenchon Rivero, Karl-Friedrich Kowalewski, Giovanni Cacciamani, Ahmed El-Sherbiny, Ahmed Zoeir, Abdelhamid M El-Bahnasy, Ruben De Groote, Alexandre Mottrie, Salvatore Micali
Urology Department, University of Modena & Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy., Urology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Tanta University, Tanta, Egypt., Department of Surgery, Candiolo Cancer Institute, FPO-IRCCS, Candiolo, Turin, Italy., Division of Urology, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, Bologna, Italy., Department of Urology, Polytechnic University of Marche Region, Umberto I Hospital "Ospedali Riuniti", Ancona, Italy., Uro-technology and SoMe Working Group of the Young Academic Urologists Working Party, European Association of Urology, Arnhem, the Netherlands., Urology and Nephrology Department, Virgen del Rocío University Hospital, Manuel Siurot Sin Numero, Seville, Spain., Department of Urology and Urological Surgery, University Medical Centre Mannheim, Mannheim, Germany., USC Institute of Urology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA., ORSI Academy, Melle, Belgium.