Growth characteristics and therapeutic decision markers in von Hippel-Lindau disease patients with renal cell carcinoma.

Background: Von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) disease is a multi-systemic hereditary disease associated with several benign and malignant tumor entities, including clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC). Since ccRCCs grow slowly, nephron sparing surgery is typically performed at a tumor diameter of 3-4 cm before the tumor metastasizes. However, in the case of recurrent disease, repeated surgical intervention can impair renal function.