Kidney Tumor Removal Procedure. Removing part of a kidney partial nephrectomy this operation is used for small kidney cancers that have not spread. Sometimes the adrenal gland also has to be removed as well depending on the location of the tumor.
Sometimes the adrenal gland also has to be removed as well depending on the location of the tumor. Generally there is no consequence after removing a single adrenal gland humans have 2 adrenal glands and only 1 is needed. Radical nephrectomy involves complete surgical removal of the kidney tumor and surrounding fat.
Cancer is another reason to remove a kidney.
During a radical nephrectomy the urologic surgeon removes the entire kidney and often some additional structures such as part of the tube that connects the kidney to the bladder ureter or other adjacent structures such as the adrenal gland or lymph nodes. Sometimes the adrenal gland also has to be removed as well depending on the location of the tumor. Cancer is another reason to remove a kidney. Doctors call this nephron sparing surgery.