Mr. Chen, 41, found a tumor of about 1 cm in diameter in his left kidney during a medical checkup organized by his unit, and after several imaging examinations, “kidney cancer” was highly suspected. The local doctor suggested to remove the affected kidney, and Mr. Chen was very afraid. After being introduced by his friends, he came to a specialized hospital in the provincial capital. Doctors performed “kidney unit preservation surgery” for him – 1 cm around the edge of the tumor to remove part of the kidney including the tumor, and the pathology confirmed “renal cell carcinoma”. After the surgery, Mr. Chen recovered well and was discharged from the hospital 1 week later, and was able to work normally soon. Mr. Chen sighed with emotion and said, “It’s so close, so kidney cancer surgery can preserve the kidney! Kidney cancer accounts for about 2%-3% of adult malignant tumors. According to the statistics of China’s Cancer Prevention and Treatment Research Office and the Health Statistics Information Center of the Ministry of Health, the incidence of kidney cancer is increasing year by year, and the high incidence age is 50-70 years old, mostly single epidemic kidney cancer. Most kidney cancers are highly malignant and should be treated promptly after detection, and surgical resection is the only possible method for radical cure. In the past, kidney cancer patients were often performed nephrectomy on the affected side, but problems ensued. Due to changes in diet structure, living environment and other factors, the incidence of hypertension and diabetes is increasing year by year. These high-risk factors make patients with only one kidney after radical nephrectomy at significantly higher risk of renal insufficiency, which seriously affects the quality of life and shortens survival time. Some special patients: such as isolated kidney, if the only remaining normal kidney unit is removed, lifelong hemodialysis is required to sustain life after surgery. After a meta-analysis of reports from multiple medical centers worldwide, urologists have reached a consensus that the efficacy of kidney unit preservation surgery is the same as radical nephrectomy according to the indications. So, which patients are suitable for renal unit preservation surgery? Chinese urological guidelines recommend the following three types of cases for kidney unit preservation surgery: 1) patients with renal cancer occurring in anatomically or functionally isolated kidneys where radical nephrectomy would lead to renal insufficiency or uremia, such as congenital isolated kidneys, contralateral renal insufficiency or non-function, and bilateral renal cancer; 2) patients with certain benign diseases in the kidney contralateral to renal cancer, such as renal stones, chronic pyelonephritis or other diseases that may lead to Patients with certain benign diseases (e.g. hypertension, diabetes mellitus, renal artery stenosis, etc.) that may lead to deterioration of renal function; 3 Patients with normal contralateral renal function: tumor diameter below 4 cm, located in the periphery of the kidney, and single kidney cancer; surgery should be performed to remove the tumor completely, and the renal parenchyma should be removed 0.5-1.0 cm from the tumor. Both open and laparoscopic surgical approaches can be used, and both have the same results. Compared with conventional radical resection for kidney cancer, surgery to preserve the kidney unit is more difficult and risky, and is recommended to be done in a specialized hospital by an experienced surgeon. Routine follow-up is also needed after surgery to prevent and treat tumor recurrence. As long as the indications are well chosen, kidney unit preserving surgery can also cure kidney cancer.