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National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, USA.
J Urol 2009;181:2462–9.
Editor’s note: The incidence of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) in the US is increasing, with the greatest rise seen in patients diagnosed with localized disease. This has been attributed primarily to the more frequent use of radiological imaging, which allows detection of tumors at earlier stages. This increase in the numbers of patients being diagnosed with early-stage disease, in combination with improvements in both surgical and systemic treatments, has resulted in an increase in the 5-year survival rate in patients with RCC. The objective of this study was to investigate current patterns of treatment for RCC in community practice following these changes, through the examination of data from a population-based sample in the US.