Nephrectomy (nuh-FREK-tuh-me) is a surgical procedure to remove all or part of a kidney:

• Radical (complete) nephrectomy: The entire kidney is removed along with surrounding structures such as part of the ureter, adrenal gland, or lymph nodes if necessary.
• Partial nephrectomy: Also called kidney-sparing or nephron-sparing surgery, only the tumor or diseased tissue is removed while preserving healthy kidney tissue.

Nephrectomy is most commonly performed to treat kidney cancer or to remove a noncancerous (benign) tumor. It may also be needed for a seriously damaged or non-functioning kidney. In the case of a donor nephrectomy, a healthy kidney is removed from a donor for transplant into another person.

The surgery may be done through:

• Open nephrectomy: A single large incision in the abdomen or side to remove the kidney.
• Laparoscopic nephrectomy: Several small incisions are used with a camera and small surgical tools to remove the kidney.
• Robotic-assisted nephrectomy: A robotic system is used to assist the surgeon in performing laparoscopic surgery with enhanced precision and control.