Twenty-six patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma have been submitted to metastatectomy between 1975 and 1986. The actuarial 5-year survival of the 23 patients resected for cure is 31%. The medium disease-free survival was 11 months for the 11 synchronous metastases and 26 months for the 12 metachronous metastases. Three patients with disseminated disease had palliative surgery: 2 for pathologic fractures and one for tracheal compression. All improved after surgery, and survived 7, 16 and 27 months. It is confirmed that surgical resection of solitary or single organ site distant metastases from renal cell carcinoma is justified.