Nephrectomy is performed to treat kidney cancer or to remove a noncancerous (benign) tumor. The urologic surgeon may perform a nephrectomy through a single incision in the abdomen or side (open nephrectomy) or through a series of small incisions in the abdomen using a camera and small instruments (laparoscopic nephrectomy).
In some cases, a nephrectomy is performed to deal with a diseased or seriously damaged kidney.