Financial Considerations in the Management of Small Renal Masses

The incidence of small renal masses (SRM) is increasing in recent years due to more frequent use of abdominal imaging, consequentially conferring higher costs on the health system. As costs increase, financial considerations will have a significant impact on the availability of treatments and technologies. Recognizing and understanding these considerations is important for the treating physician. In this chapter, we will explain the basic terminology and concepts of cost analysis and provide a review of current literature assessing the cost of several treatment options for the management of SRMs including surveillance, the use of biopsies to guide treatment, and different ablative and surgical techniques.