SUMMARY1 A retrospective computer‐analysis was made of 348 cases of renal cell carcinoma seen at The London Hospital between 1940 and 1965 inclusive.2 Two hundred and forty case records were of adequate quality for study.3 One hundred and sixty‐four patients underwent nephrectomy: the corrected five‐year survival rate was 40 per cent.4 Ninety‐six patients were treated by nephrectomy only, with a five‐year survival rate of 52 per cent.; 68 patients were treated by nephrectomy and post‐operative irradiation, with a five‐year survival of 25 per cent.5 Further analysis of these results with regard to tumour stage and tumour grade showed that irradiation to the renal bed had not improved the prognosis of renal cell carcinoma over tha