Abstract Objective  To compare the treatment of laparoscopic nephron-sparing surgery(LNSS) versus open nephron-sparing surgery(ONSS) in patients with cystic renal cell carcinoma. Methods  Fourteen patients diagnosed with cystic renal cell carcinoma were reviewed retrospectively from January 2004 to October 2016. All patients were divided into two groups: LNSS group consisted of 6 patients and ONSS group of 8 patients. Comparison were made in clinical indexes between peri-operative bleeding,operative time，postoperative pain scores，warm ischemia time，indwelling time of drainage tube and hospitalization time.Results The LNSS group was significantly lower than the ONSS group in peri-operative bleeding and postoperative pain scores. Warm ischemia time and operative time were statistically significant shorter in ONSS group. There was no statistical significance in indwelling time of drainage tube and hospitalization time in two groups（P<0.05）.Conclusions  LNSS and ONSS have their own advantages in treating with cystic renal cell carcinoma and LNSS is an effective minimally invasive option with great skills．