Background and purpose: Systemic reports about the prognosis of patients with renal cell carcinoma (RCC) of stage T_(1-3a)N_0M_0 combined with inflammatory enlargement of hilar lymph nodes have not been observed in the literature. This study was to investigate the prognostic role of inflammatory enlargement of hilar lymph nodes in the patients with RCC of stage T_(1-3a)N_0M_0 and its association with clinical features. Methods; Forty-nine patients with RCC of stage T_(1-3a)N_0M_0 combined with inflammatory enlargement of hilar lymph nodes were reviewed and all these patients underwent radical nephrectomy from January 1995 to January 2000. Results: The duration of follow-up was 8-14 years with the average of 7.5 years. Seven patients were lost to follow-up. Seventeen patients without RCC and four with RCC metastases are alive at present. Eighteen patients died of RCC relatad complications and three died of cerebro-cardiovascular disease. Metastases occurred in twenty-two patients one year after surgery. The 5- and 10- year survival rates were 53.1% and 42.9%, respectively. Conclusion: Most of the enlarged hilar lymph nodes in RCC were diagnosed as lymphadenitis. The rate of inflammatory enlargement of hilar lymph nodes in the long-term survival patients with RCC of stage T_(1-3a)N_0M_0 were comparatively low. Regional lymphadenectomy or resection of enlarged inflammatory lymph nodes could not protect the patients from metastasis completely. It is advised that limited lymphadenectomy with resection of enlarged inflammatory lymph nodes should be performed for the patients in RCC combined only with inflammatory enlargement of hilar lymph nodes.