Start with the imaging that already describes the kidney lesion
The single most useful item is the diagnostic scan that first showed the kidney lesion, together with its written radiology report. For a kidney mass, that is normally a contrast-enhanced CT or MRI of the abdomen. If you have both, send both. The report matters as much as the images because it records the lesion's size, position, enhancement pattern and relationship to the collecting system and renal vessels. Those details shape whether a partial nephrectomy is technically reasonable to discuss.
Send the original DICOM files if you can, not only photographs of a screen or a compressed PDF. A urologist reviewing a partial nephrectomy case needs to scroll through the phases and measure the lesion. If the images are on a hospital CD or USB drive, ask the radiology department for a copy in DICOM format. If you only have the report, send it anyway; it still allows a first conversation about whether the case is worth pursuing.
Do not send a scan without its report, or a report without any images, and expect a complete opinion. Each answers a different question. The report tells the specialist what the radiologist concluded; the images let the surgeon form an independent view of the anatomy.
Include the kidney function and urine results that affect surgical planning
Partial nephrectomy removes part of a kidney, so the treating team needs to know how both kidneys are working before recommending it. Send your most recent serum creatinine and estimated glomerular filtration rate, plus any urine tests such as urinalysis or urine protein. If you have a nuclear medicine split renal function study, include it. These results help the specialist understand whether preserving kidney tissue is a priority and whether the remaining kidney can compensate.
If you have a history of kidney stones, recurrent urinary infections, hypertension or diabetes, say so in your summary. These conditions can influence how a surgeon plans a partial nephrectomy and what preoperative workup is needed. You do not need to send every historical result, but the recent ones that describe current kidney function are directly relevant.
Blood counts, coagulation tests and a recent ECG are commonly requested before surgery, but you do not need to arrange them for an initial records review unless you already have them. The treating hospital will specify its own preoperative requirements after it accepts the case.
What a specialist can and cannot judge from records alone
A urologist reviewing your records remotely can assess whether the lesion's size, location and imaging features make partial nephrectomy a plausible option. They can identify whether the case appears straightforward, complex or borderline, and whether additional imaging such as a dedicated CT angiogram might be needed. They can also flag whether the records suggest a need for other specialists, such as a nephrologist or interventional radiologist.
What they cannot do remotely is confirm final suitability. That depends on a physical examination, a review of the actual images on the hospital's system, and sometimes additional tests the treating team orders. A remote opinion is a planning tool, not a surgical clearance. The hospital decides whether to accept the case and which operation to recommend.
This distinction matters for your expectations. A positive remote review means the case is worth bringing to China for in-person assessment. It does not mean the partial nephrectomy is confirmed, scheduled or guaranteed. The final decision belongs to the treating surgeon after local evaluation.
Organise the gaps without ordering new tests yourself
Most patients who enquire about partial nephrectomy in China already have a diagnostic scan and some blood work. The common gaps are missing DICOM images, an old creatinine result, no split renal function study, or a pathology report from a previous biopsy that was not included. You can list these gaps in your enquiry summary so the receiving team knows what is missing.
Do not order new imaging or blood tests on your own before a specialist has reviewed what you have. A new scan done without the right protocol may not answer the surgeon's question, and repeating tests unnecessarily adds cost and delay. Instead, ask the hospital or the coordination team what specific additional information would help them assess your case. They can tell you whether a local test is acceptable or whether they prefer imaging done at their own facility.
If you have a biopsy report, include it. The pathology findings can influence whether partial nephrectomy is appropriate or whether another approach should be discussed. If no biopsy has been done, say so clearly rather than leaving the question open.
Prepare a short summary that makes the records usable
A folder of files without context slows down review. Write a one-page summary in English that states your age, the date the lesion was first found, the main symptoms if any, your current medications, relevant past surgery, and your main question. Then list the records you are sending with dates and the hospital that produced them.
Order the list to match the clinical question. Put the diagnostic scan and its report first, then kidney function results, then any biopsy or pathology report, then the remaining documents. A specialist reading the summary should be able to see, in the first few lines, what the lesion is, how both kidneys are working, and what you want to know. If a document is missing, write 'not available' next to that item rather than leaving it out. A clear gap is easier to work with than a silent omission, because the receiving team can then tell you whether that item matters for your case.
Keep the first contact brief. The initial enquiry form asks for a short summary, not a complete medical archive. After first contact, the team will explain how to share larger files securely. Do not send passport numbers, payment details or a full medical history through the initial form.
If your records are in another language, include a translation of the radiology and pathology reports. The images themselves do not need translation, but the written conclusions do. A clear summary and translated reports reduce back-and-forth and help the specialist focus on the clinical question.
Name the files so they can be matched to the list. A folder of scans labelled only with numbers is hard to connect to the dates in your summary. Use a simple naming pattern such as the date, the type of record and the hospital, and keep the same order in the folder as in the summary. This is administrative work, not clinical work, but it decides how quickly a surgeon can form a view.
Keep a copy of everything you send. If the receiving team asks a follow-up question about a specific image or value, you can answer it without requesting the records again from the original hospital. This can make it easier to answer a specific records question without requesting the same material again.
One practical limit: do not send a link to a cloud folder that expires, and do not assume a messaging app preserves image quality. Ask the coordination team which transfer method they prefer for DICOM files before you send a large set. The method matters because a compressed or resized image can lose the detail a surgeon needs to assess the lesion.
Questions that change the next step
The answers to a few specific questions determine whether you travel for assessment or continue gathering information locally. Ask the receiving team: Does the imaging I have show the lesion clearly enough for you to assess partial nephrectomy? Do you need the original DICOM files, or is the report sufficient for a first opinion? What additional tests would you order in China, and can any of them be done locally first?
Also ask: After reviewing my records, do you consider me a candidate for in-person assessment? What would make you recommend a different operation? These questions keep the conversation focused on the clinical decision rather than logistics.
If the response is that more information is needed, that is not a rejection. It means the remote review has limits, which is expected. The next step is to supply the missing items or plan an in-person visit where the treating team can complete its own assessment.
Sources & scope of this guide
References and official service information relevant to this guide.
This is general planning information and has not been individually reviewed by a doctor. Medical decisions and personal treatment advice come from your treating clinicians.