Originally Published by UroToday
In an interview with UroToday, Dr. Kathryn Gessner discusses her focus on improving patient-centered communication for managing small renal masses, an issue faced by 30% of such patients. She explores how multiple management options, from surgical resection to active surveillance and cryoablation, can lead to decisional conflict for patients. Her work reveals that 20-30% of these masses are benign and carry a low risk of mortality and metastasis. Gessner and her team are developing the Grade SRM clinical trial to study decisional conflict and enhance patient-centered communication. Their preliminary results indicate a need for individualized counseling based on factors such as education levels, prior surgery experience, and the nature of the renal mass. Future efforts include collaborations with the UNC School of Media and Journalism to further improve patient communication.
Biographies:
Kathryn Hacker Gessner, MD, PhD, Urologic Oncology Fellow, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC
Ruchika Talwar, MD, Urologic Oncology Fellow, Department of Urology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN