Table 2. Recommended follow-up scheme for patients at risk of recurrence.

Time point / diagnostic tests	3 Months	6 Mo.	12 Mo.	18 Mo.	24 Mo.	36 Mo.	48 Mo.	60 Mo.	84 Mo.	108 Mo.
Patients at low risk of recurrence
History & physical examination	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x
Laboratory tests	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x
Abdominal ultrasonography	x	x	x	x		x		x
Chest CT			x		x		x
Abdominal CT	(x)*				x		x
Patients at moderate risk of recurrence
History & physical examination	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x
Laboratory tests	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x
Abdominal ultrasonography	x	x		x	x	x	x
Chest CT		x	x		x	x	x	x	x	x
Abdominal CT	(x)*		x			x		x	x	x
Patients at high risk of recurrence
History & physical examination	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x
Laboratory tests	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x
Abdominal ultrasonography	x	(x)*		x		x	x
Chest CT		x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x
Abdominal CT	(x)	(x)	x		x			x	x	x

^*Patients who have undergone partial nephrectomy for the treatment of complex tumors are in a special situation: when there are extensive or centrally located resection defects in the kidney. recurrent tumor can often be hard to to distinguish from scarring. either by ultrasonography or by tomographic imaging (CT or MRI).For routine practice. it has been found useful to obtain a baseline CT or MRI scan 8–12 weeks after partial nephrectomy to serve as a basis for comparison with future scans. It is up to the surgeon to decide whether a baseline scan is indicated in the light of the operative findings. and. if so. to integrate this scan into the follow-up scheme. In the chart above. the baseline scan is designated by an x in parentheses.