Factors linked with receiving a lymph node dissection during surgery for nonmetastatic renal cell carcinoma.

672 Background: The benefit of a lymph node dissection (LND) in renal cell carcinoma (RCC) remains poorly defined. Despite this uncertainty, the American Urological Association (AUA) guideline on localized renal cancer recommends that LND be performed for staging purposes when there is suspicion of regional lymphadenopathy on imaging. Using the National Cancer Database (NCDB), we examined factors associated with the receipt of LND at the time of renal surgery. Methods: The NCDB was queried for non-metastatic patients who underwent partial nephrectomy or nephrectomy for RCC from 2010 to 2014. Patient socio-demographics, clinical characteristics, and treatment factors were extracted. Logistic regression models were used to examine factors associated with the receipt of LND. Results: We identified 110,963 patients who underwent surgery for RCC, of whom 11,867 (11%) had LND performed at the time of surgery. Clinical lymph node (cLN) and pathologic lymph node (pLN) information were available in 11,300 patients, of which 1,725 were preoperatively staged as having positive cLN. In the entire study population, patients who were cLN positive were approximately 19 times more likely to receive a LND at the time of surgery (OR: 18.68, 95%CI: 16.62-21.00). Factors associated with a LND in patients who are cLN negative (n = 106,370) were assessed. Clinical T (cT) stage was the strongest indicator of LND (cT2-4, OR range: 4.87-11.1). Among both cohorts, patients who received surgery at an academic/research institution or traveled farther ( > 31 miles) to a treatment center were more likely to undergo a LND. Patients from both cohorts who underwent robotic or laparoscopic surgery were less likely to receive a LND compared to open surgery. Conclusions: The greatest predictor of LND receipt is being cLN positive. Among patients who are cLN negative, the greatest predictor of LND is cT stage. Predictors of undergoing LND in all patients and those who are cLN negative include treatment center type and distance to the treatment center. Additional studies to determine the accuracy of clinical staging and assess novel preoperative imaging modalities that evaluate nodal involvement are indicated.