Initial division of the left renal vein before dissection of left renal vein occluded by intracaval tumor thrombus

Between November 2008 and March 2010, we performed initial division of the left renal vein occluded by the tumor thrombus in six cases of left renal cancer at Toranomon Hospital. The left renal vein was completely occluded by the tumor thrombus in all cases. In order to ligate the left renal artery first behind the dilated left renal vein, we must dissect the left kidney with arterial blood flow. Massive bleeding from the numerous engorged collateral veins around the left kidney is inevitable. Furthermore, access to the left renal artery is difficult because of the large tumor. We therefore initially divided the left renal vein without arterial blood flow followed by division of the left renal artery. After nephrectomy by dissecting the tumor without blood flow we extirpated the intracaval tumor thrombus. The median time of the operation was 7 hours 35 minutes and the median amount of blood loss was 2,869 ml. The tumor stage was pT3b in four cases and pT3c in two cases. No complications were observed during and after surgery except for one case of lymphocele and another case of chylous ascites. The initial division of the left renal vein is considered to be a useful surgical approach in left renal cancer with occluded left renal vein, especially when the tumor is large.     

Removal of intra-atrial tumor thrombus of renal cell carcinoma: report of a case

A case of left renal cell carcinoma with a tumor thrombus extending into the vena cava and the right atrium is reported. A 49-year-old female presented with a one month history of palpitation, dyspnea, and leg edema. CT-scanning and angiography revealed a left renal tumor with a tumor thrombus extending into the right atrium. Left nephrectomy and the removal of an intra-atrial tumor thrombus were performed under cardiopulmonary bypass. The postoperative course was unfavorable and the patient died on the 42nd day after the operation because of multiple organ failure in spite of repeated hemoperfusion. Operative procedure and prognosis of renal cell carcinoma with tumor thrombus extending into the right atrium are discussed.     

Renal angiomyolipoma with a tumor thrombus extending into the right atrium--a case report]

We present a case of spontaneous rupture of renal angiomyolipoma with a tumor thrombus extending from the right renal vein and inferior vena cava to the right atrium. A 41-year-old woman, previously in good health, was referred to our hospital with right flank pain. Computed tomography showed fat densities in both tumor and thrombus. Other imaging examinations also demonstrated a large right renal mass (18 cm in diameter), a long tumor thrombus (13 cm in length) and a small left renal tumor (1.5 cm in diameter). Right nephrectomy and en-bloc removal of the intra caval and intracardiac tumor thrombus were performed on cardiopulmonary bypass. It was pathologically diagnosed as an angiomyolipoma without tuberous sclerosis. At present, three years after surgery the patient is doing well, showing neither metastasis nor increase of the left renal angiomyolipoma. To our knowledge, our case seems to be the 3rd case report of renal angiomyolipoma with a tumor thrombus extending to the right atrium. We conclude that renal angiomyolipoma even with an intra cardiac tumor thrombus can be resected safely and successfully.     

A case report of left renal cell carcinoma with tumor thrombus extending into the right atrium

A case report of left renal cell carcinoma with tumor thrombus extending into the right atrium is reported. A 76-year-old woman was found to have a left renal tumor with tumor thrombus extending into the inferior vena cava and right atrium by computed tomographic-scanning. Left nephrectomy and removal of an intra-atrial tumor thrombus were performed under a cardiopulmonary bypass. The post-operative course was uneventful and the patient was discharged from the hospital 22 days postoperatively. The pathological diagnosis was clear cell carcinoma. After surgery, the patient received interferon-gamma. However, the patient developed lung metastases 26 months after the operation and is currently being observed while receiving interferon-alpha.     

Successful interferon-alpha therapy of renal cell carcinoma with lung metastasis: a case report

A 67-year-old man was admitted with a chief complaint of dyspnea. Computed tomography (CT) revealed a left renal tumor, 12 cm in diameter, with tumor thrombus in the left renal vein, multiple lung metastases, right pleural effusion, and para-aortic lymph node metastases. Because of poor condition in respiratory status, nephrectomy was considered to be impossible and the patient was administered 6×10? IU of interferon-alpha daily. Then, 6×10? IU was also administered three times a week. At 14 months after interferon-alpha therapy, CT scan showed complete remission of lung, pleura metastases and right pleural effusion, and the left renal tumor was markedly reduced in size. Because of improvement of general condition, nephrectomy of the left kidney was performed. Twenty-seven months after the start of interferon-alpha therapy, the patient is alive without evidence of disease.     

A case report of retroaortic left renal vein with tumor thrombus of renal cell carcinoma

A 75-year-old woman was referred to our department for evaluation of a left renal tumor. Computed tomography and other imaging studies demonstrated a left renal mass and tumor extension into the left renal vein passing caudally behind the aorta. We clinically diagnosed the tumor as renal cell carcinoma (RCC) associated with a retroaortic left renal vein thrombus, and performed a radical nephrectomy. Pathological examination of the surgical specimen showed a grade 2, clear cell carcinoma with a renal vein thrombus and negative surgical margin. Retroaortic left renal vein is a rare anomaly with a prevalence of 1.8–2.4%. RCC associated with a retroaortic left renal vein thrombus is rarer still. To our knowledge, this is only the third case report to describe an RCC associated with a tumor thrombus in the retroaortic left renal vein.     

经腹手术取出下腔静脉及右心房肾癌癌栓

目的:探讨在非体外循环下,经腹手术取出转移至下腔静脉及右心房内的肾癌栓的效果。方法:采用肝移植术中背驮式游离肝脏的技术,在充分暴露肝后下腔静脉的前提下,将右心房内癌栓挤至膈肌以下,纵形切开下腔静脉取除。结果:成功取出长13cm、直径3cm的癌栓,术中出血600ml。随访30个月,患者恢复正常工作,肝肾功能正常。结论:经腹游离肝脏后,可取出高达膈肌以上的下腔静脉和右心房内的癌栓,操作要点是减少术中出血并防止癌栓脱落。     

腹腔镜治疗肾错构瘤并肾静脉及下腔静脉瘤栓1例并文献复习

目的：探讨全腹腔镜治疗肾错构瘤并肾静脉及下腔静脉瘤栓的可行性分析。方法：回顾性分析1例腹腔镜治疗肾错构瘤并肾静脉及下腔静脉瘤栓患者的临床资料。患者,女,26岁,体检时发现右肾占位,B超示右肾窦内可见5．1cm×2．7cm高回声占位,边界欠规则,内见血流。CT示右肾盂旁可见一不规则团块状混杂密度影,大小为4．5cm×2．9cm×1．9cm,可见脂肪成分,最低密度-40HU;病变软组织部分明显强化,增强前后CT值分别为31HU和97HU,病变主要位于肾窦,部分延伸至肾静脉及腔静脉内。检索Pubmed和CBM数据库相关文献进行复习。结果：患者在全麻下行腹腔镜右肾切除及肾静脉、下腔静脉取栓术,瘤栓进入下腔静脉0．6cm。病理诊断右肾错构瘤。术后随访6个月无肿瘤复发和转移。结论：肾错构瘤并。肾静脉及下腔静脉瘤栓临床罕见,对选择性病例行腹腔镜肾切除并行肾静脉及下腔静脉取栓术安全可行。     

Real-time transesophageal echocardiography for intraoperative surveillance of patients with renal cell carcinoma and vena caval extension undergoing radical nephrectomy

PURPOSE: Vena caval tumor thrombus associated with renal cell carcinoma occurs in 4 to 10% of all renal tumors. There is significant operative morbidity and mortality in removing these tumors. We investigate the use of real-time transesophageal echocardiography intraoperatively and to identify tumor thrombus migration and air embolus, which are 2 potentially fatal complications of this procedure. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 13 consecutive patients with renal masses and vena caval extension underwent extirpative surgery monitored with real-time transesophageal echocardiography. RESULTS: In 11 cases the involved kidney and tumor thrombus were removed without morbidity and no evidence of tumor migration or air embolus. Transesophageal echocardiography revealed a 5 cm. tumor thrombus in the right atrium which was removed by immediate atriotomy in 1 of the remaining 2 cases, and a large volume of air in the right atrium that was percutaneously evacuated in the other. These intraoperative complications were unsuspected and only recognized due to the use of transesophageal echocardiography. CONCLUSIONS: Real-time transesophageal echocardiography is a useful adjunct to surgery in patients with renal cell carcinoma and vena caval extension. Transesophageal echocardiography facilitates identification of tumor thrombus migration and air embolization, which are potentially fatal complications, and allows for immediate intraoperative intervention.     

腹腔镜下根治性肾切除并肾静脉及腔静脉取栓术

目的 探讨腹腔镜下根治性肾切除并肾静脉及腔静脉取栓术的可行性. 方法 右肾占位病变患者2例.增强CT显示1例肿物部分延伸至肾静脉及腔静脉内,1例右肾静脉内可见充盈缺损并突入腔静脉内.均在全麻下行经后腹腔镜下根治性右肾切除及肾静脉、腔静脉取栓术.术中放置4个穿刺套管针,切断肾动脉后游离腔静脉及肾静脉,腔镜血管阻断钳部分阻断腔静脉,切开腔静脉取出瘤栓,缝合腔静脉,完整切除肾脏及瘤栓. 结果 2例患者的腔静脉瘤栓长度分别为0.3和1.0 cm,均安全取出,术后恢复良好,5 d出院.病理诊断分别为上皮样肾血管平滑肌脂肪瘤和肾透明细胞癌1～2级.术后随访5个月未见肿瘤复发和转移. 结论 对选择性肾肿瘤并肾静脉及腔静脉瘤栓患者行腹腔镜下根治性肾切除并肾静脉及腔静脉取栓术安全可行.     

Hand assisted laparoscopic radical nephrectomy for renal cell carcinoma with inferior vena caval thrombus

PURPOSE: To our knowledge we present the initial clinical report of hand assisted laparoscopic radical nephrectomy for renal cell carcinoma with tumor thrombus extending into the inferior vena cava. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A 76-year-old man was referred to our medical center with a 12.5 x 10 cm. stage T3b right renal tumor extending into the inferior vena cava. The caval thrombus was limited and completely below the level of the hepatic veins. After preoperative renal embolization via the hand assisted transperitoneal approach the right kidney was completely dissected with the renal hilum. Proximal and distal control of the inferior vena cava was obtained with vessel loops and a single lumbar vein was divided between clips. An endoscopic Satinsky vascular clamp was placed on the inferior vena cava just beyond its juncture with the right renal vein, thereby, encompassing the caval thrombus. The inferior vena cava was opened above the Satinsky clamp and a cuff of the inferior vena cava was removed contiguous with the renal vein. The inferior vena cava was repaired with continuous 4-zero vascular polypropylene suture and the Satinsky clamp was then removed. A literature search failed to reveal any similar reports of laparoscopic radical nephrectomy for stage T3b renal cell cancer. RESULTS: Surgery was completed without complication with an estimated 500 cc blood loss. Pathological testing confirmed stage T3b grade 3 renal adenocarcinoma with negative inferior vena caval and soft tissue margins. CONCLUSIONS: The introduction of vascular laparoscopic instrumentation and the hand assisted approach enabled us to extend the indications for laparoscopic radical nephrectomy to patients with minimal inferior venal caval involvement.     

A rare case of left atrial thrombus after left upper pulmonary lobectomy

A 75-year-old man was operated for left atrial thrombus. He had received left upper pulmonary lobectomy for epidermoid carcinoma of the lung, 6 months previously. Thrombus, 5.2 X 1.5 X 0.8 cm in size, was grown up from the inside of the left upper pulmonary vein into the left atrial cavity. It was removed and left upper pulmonary vein orifice was sutured and closed. There was no abnormal findings in the endocardium of the left atrium and mitral valve. A case of the left atrial thrombus after the pulmonary lobectomy is very rare and this may be the first report in world literature.     

Surgical treatment for infected thrombus in the superior vena cava using an off-pump venoatrial shunt

We report a septic patient who had an infected thrombus that extended from the right internal jugular vein to the right atrium 1 cm below the superior venocaval junction. The thrombus was successfully removed using an off-pump shunt placed between the innominate vein and the right atrium.     

Surgical treatment under extracorporeal circulation for renal cell carcinoma with tumor thrombus in inferior vena cava]

Three cases of renal cell carcinoma with tumor thrombus extending into the inferior vena cava are reported. Radical nephrectomy and thrombectomy were performed under extracorporeal circulation in all the cases. The level of tumor thrombus was preoperatively determined by computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging or venacavography. The tumor thrombus extended into the right atrium in one, and above the hepatic vein in two cases. One patient whose thrombus reached the right atrium died of multiple metastasis of renal cell carcinoma 5 months after operation. Another patient with lung metastasis was given interferon-alpha and is alive 5 months after operation. The other patient is clinically free of disease and in good health 7 years after operation. We believe that extracorporeal circulation allows an opportunity to resect the tumor thrombus in a controlled situation, and makes the operation safer.     

Malignant renal epithelioid angiomyolipoma with an inferior vena cava and right atrium thrombus

The epithelioid variant type of angiomyolipomas presents malignant characteristics compared to classic angiomyolipomas. Epithelioid angiomyolipomas (eAMLomas) are easy to misdiagnose as renal cell carcinoma due to similar histologic and radiographic findings. Until recently, only a few cases of distant metastases of eAMLoma were reported. Herein, we describe a 69-year-old woman with renal eAMLoma and tumor thrombus metastasis to the renal vein, inferior vena cava, and right atrium. She received a left radical nephrectomy combined with tumor thrombus excision and systemic chemotherapy. Using this case, we remind readers of the aggressive behavior and poor prognosis of eAMLomas and review the literature on the optimal treatment strategy.     

A case of renal angiomyolipoma with tumor thrombus

A 42-year-old woman presented with left renal tumor. Computed tomography showed a left renal tumor (6 cm in diameter) and a tumor thrombus at the left renal vein, which had equal density to fat tissue. She was diagnosed with malignant tumor, and underwent radical left nephrectomy and resection of thrombus. Pathological diagnosis was angiomyolipoma with no findings of malignancy. No signs of recurrence or metastasis have been observed for 8 months after the operation.     

肾癌合并下腔静脉癌栓的多学科联合治疗

目的 探讨肾癌合并下腔静脉癌栓多学科联合治疗的临床意义.方法 经B超和CT检查诊断为右肾癌合并下腔静脉癌栓的患者2例,下腔静脉癌栓Ⅱ级和Ⅳ级各1例.全麻下取腹部人字形切口.泌尿外科行右肾切除;肝胆外科游离腔静脉至第二肝门,于癌栓上下阻断腔静脉和周围分支静脉;血管外科切开腔静脉完整取出癌栓,缝合腔静脉.例2患者腔静脉癌栓距右心房2-3cm,肿瘤侵及腔静脉血管壁及血管内膜,术中建立左股静脉-右心房转流,心肺转流241 min,阻断主动脉18 min,行自体血液回输、腔静脉置换及第二肝门肝静脉-人工血管吻合.分析手术适应证、手术时间、术中出血量、术后住院时间等.结果 2例均成功行根治性右肾切除术,完整取出癌栓.2例分别于术后15、27 d出院.分别随访1、16个月,未发现肿瘤局部复发及远处转移.结论 对于没有淋巴结侵犯和远处转移的肾癌合并下腔静脉癌栓患者,应积极行根治性肾切除术及癌栓取出术,多学科联合协作可缩短手术时间、降低手术风险、减少肿瘤复发、提高患者生存率.

Abstract：

Objective To evaluate the surgical treatment for renal cell carcinoma with inferior vena cava tumor thrombus and the clinical significance of multidisciplinary treatment. Methods Two cases of renal cell carcinoma with inferior vena cava thrombus diagnosed by Doppler ultrasonography and CT were included in this retrospective analysis. The tumor thrombus was in level Ⅱ in one case and in level Ⅳ in the other. Coagulation test and complete blood count were done again before surgery. Human albumin, fibrinogen, prothrombin complex, plasma, platelet, UW and irrigating solution were prepared before the operation.Under general anesthesia, surgery was performed using abdomen inverted Y shaped incision. Right radical nephrectomy was finished by the urological surgeon; the vena cava was completely dissected from the renal vein level to the secondary porta of the liver by the hepatobiliary surgeon, the vena cava and the surrounding branch vein were blocked in the upper and lower vena cava tumor thrombus; tumor thrombus was removed completely by the vascular surgeon. In one case (patient with level Ⅳ thrombus ) where the tumour thrombus invaded the wall of the vena cava, the thrombus was found to be extending to the cavo-atrial junction but not into the right atrium. The left femoral venous-right atrial bypass was established, the cardiopulmonary bypass lasted for 241 mia, and the aorta was blocked for 18 min. Salvage autotransfusion was used during surgery, and the hepatic vein of the secondary liver porta was anastomosed to artificial vascular graft.The data for surgical indication, operation time, operative blood loss and postoperative hospital stay were analyzed. Results Right radical nephrectomy and inferior vena cava thrombectomy were performed successfully, and the two patients were discharged on the 15th and 27th day after surgery, respectively. The two patients were followed up for 1 and 16 months after surgery, respectively, and both survived without local recurrence and distant metastasis. Conclusion Radical nephrectomy and inferior vena cava thrombectomy is the preferred method for patients without metastasis, and multidisciplinary cooperation could shorten the operation time, reduce the tumor recurrence and increase the survival rate of patients.     

Laparoscopic radical adrenalectomy with adrenal vein tumor thrombectomy: technical considerations

PURPOSE: We describe the technique of adrenal vein tumor thrombectomy during laparoscopic radical adrenalectomy for cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: During laparoscopic adrenalectomy for a heterogeneous 7 cm left adrenal mass an adrenal vein thrombus was detected intraoperatively. Laparoscopic ultrasonography was used to delineate precisely the tumor thrombus and its extension into the left main renal vein. The left renal artery and vein were transiently controlled with atraumatic vascular clamps. The renal vein was incised and the intact tumor thrombus was removed en bloc with the radical adrenalectomy specimen. The renal vein was suture repaired with 4-zero prolene and the kidney was revascularized. RESULTS: Renal warm ischemia time was 21 minutes, blood loss was 300 cc and operative time was 6.2 hours. Pathological evaluation revealed a 7.5 cm 68 gm adrenal cortical cancer with tumor thrombus. Soft tissue and adrenal vein margins were negative for cancer. CONCLUSIONS: Laparoscopic radical adrenalectomy with en bloc adrenal vein tumor thrombectomy can be exclusively performed intracorporeally, while respecting oncological principles. Essential technical steps include wide margin excision of the adrenal gland, intraoperative ultrasonography, renal vascular control, en bloc tumor thrombectomy and renal venous suture repair in a bloodless field.     

A case of tumor thrombus in the right atrium after multimodal treatment of testicular tumor

A case was reported concerning a successful removal of tumor thrombus extending into the right atrium through the left brachiocephalic vein and the superior vena cava. The patient was a 34-year-old man who underwent a left inguinal orchiectomy for immature teratoma of testis in June 1987. The operation was followed by another three operations for excision of lymph node metastases and five courses of cisplatin based combination chemotherapy. In December 1988, the chest CT scan film revealed filling defect in the superior vena cava and the right atrium. Thrombus was detected using echocardiography and angiography. He had no symptom, but multiple pulmonary infarcts were also detected. In February 1989, the operation was performed by means of cardio-pulmonary bypass. A soft yellowish thrombus attached to the left venous angle was removed with resection of the left brachiocephalic vein. Microscopic findings revealed that the thrombus was metastatic testicular teratoma. With further treatment after the operation, he has been disease-free for 14 months now. We conclude that in this case aggressive surgical management following chemotherapy had great value to control the disseminated testicular tumor.     

Experience with an elective vacuum assisted cardiopulmonary bypass in the surgical treatment of renal neoplasms extending into the right atrium

PURPOSE: We evaluate the results of an elective cardiopulmonary bypass conceived to minimize the surgical risk related to its use with temporary circulatory arrest and deep hypothermia in the treatment of patients with renal tumor extending into the right atrium. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From July 1996 to December 2000, 19 patients with renal neoplasm and venous involvement were admitted to our department. Three patients 4, 57 and 58 years old with a right (2) and left (1) renal tumor extending into the right atrium underwent radical nephrectomy and tumor thrombus removal using a normothermic cardiopulmonary bypass. The bypass circuit was connected with a vacuum assisted venous drainage giving a negative pressure of 20 to 40 mm. Hg. Neither circulatory arrest nor hypothermia was used. Tumor thrombus was extracted through a longitudinal "cavotomy" and removed along with the kidney. RESULTS: Total cardiopulmonary bypass time was 14, 19 and 22 minutes, respectively. No intraoperative or postoperative complications due to surgical technique occurred. No significant bleeding was observed at the time of cavotomy and all neoplastic tissue was removed. Pathological examination documented renal cell carcinoma in 2 cases and Wilms tumor in 1. All the patients are alive 30, 42 and 15 months, respectively, after the operation. CONCLUSIONS: Normothermic cardiopulmonary bypass with vacuum assisted venous drainage makes circulatory arrest and hypothermia unnecessary and avoids the potential complications associated with these procedures. With respect to veno-venous shunts this technique guarantees complete surgical control of the thrombus and avoids the need for extensive dissection of the retrohepatic vena cava and Pringle maneuver.