Proposal for reclassification of the TNM staging system in patients with locally advanced (pT3-4) renal cell carcinoma according to the cancer-related outcome

OBJECTIVES: The optimal stratification of locally advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is controversial, with the prognostic relevance of ipsilateral adrenal gland invasion and cranial extension of vena cava thrombosis being the most debatable issues. We evaluated the prognosis of patients with locally advanced RCC and identified a new model to stratify their outcome. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We analyzed the data of 227 patients who had undergone partial or radical nephrectomy for pT3-4 RCC at two academic centers between 1986 and 2002. The log-rank test and Cox proportional hazards model were used for univariate and multivariate analysis, respectively. RESULTS: At a median follow-up of 29 mo, we censored 108 (47.6%) cancer-related deaths. On univariate analysis, the 2002 T stage was not statistically significant. According to cancer-related outcome, we identified three subgroups of patients with different prognoses: pT3a(n): tumors with perirenal fat invasion or renal vein thrombosis or thrombosis within the vena cava below the diaphragm; pT3b(n): tumors with renal vein thrombosis or thrombosis within the vena cava below the diaphragm and concomitant perirenal fat invasion; pT4(n): adrenal gland or Gerota fascia invasion or thrombosis within the vena cava above the diaphragm. The three subgroups had significantly different prognoses. The new reclassification was an independent predictive variable on multivariate analysis, as well as the pathologic lymph node stage. CONCLUSIONS: The 2002 version of TNM of locally advanced RCC did not stratify patient outcome. The present study suggests the possibility of reclassifying pT3-4 RCC into three categories capable of predicting cancer-specific survival, regardless of all other prognostic factors.     

Renal cell carcinoma: vena caval invasion and prognostic factors

Ninety-one consecutive patients with renal cell carcinoma stages pT1-4/N0-3/V0-2/M0 were analyzed for survival rates. The overall 5-year survival was 57%. Factors which made an impact on 5-year survival rates were: (1) grade of anaplasia (GI: 72%, GII: 42%, GIII: 22%; p = 0.0001); (2) pathological stage (pT1-2: 86%, pT3: 30%; p = 0.0000); (3) perinephric fat invasion (pT1-2: 86%, pT3a: 61%; p = 0.01); (4) nodal involvement (N0: 69%, N1: 11%; p = 0.0000), and (5) venous invasion (V0: 72%, V1-2: 30%; p less than 0.01). There were no differences in survival rates between V1 and V2 tumors (p greater than 0.05). Using multivariate statistical analysis we found that grade of anaplasia and venous invasion contained dire prognostic information (p = 0.0000). Among patients with stage pT3b, those without perinephric fat invasion or nodal involvement had a better survival rate than those with capsular infiltration (p less than 0.01) and a significantly better rate than those with perinephric fat invasion and nodal involvement (p less than 0.01). Moreover, there were no differences between stages pT3b with venous invasion only and stages pT1-2 (p greater than 0.05). Patients with venous invasion developed distant metastases with a significantly higher frequency than those without (p = 0.01). The prognostic impact of venous invasion is unclear yet, but is probably related to perinephric fat invasion and nodal involvement. Until further data are collected, the radical approach with complete removal of the thrombus remains the treatment of choice for localized renal cell carcinoma with vena caval extension.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Renal cell carcinoma invading the urinary collecting system: implications for staging

PURPOSE: Current TNM staging of renal cell carcinoma is based on the tumor propensity for local extension (T), nodal involvement (N) and metastatic spread (M). Locally advanced renal cell carcinoma may involve the perirenal fat, adrenal glands, renal vein, vena cava and/or urinary collecting system. The existing TNM classification does not reflect the ability of renal cell carcinoma to invade the urothelium. We evaluated the incidence and characteristics as well as overall and cancer specific survival of renal cell carcinoma invading the urinary collecting system. METHODS AND MATERIALS: We reviewed pathological findings in 504 kidneys from 475 patients with renal cell carcinoma who presented to our institution in a 3-year period. Urothelial involvement required evidence of gross or histological invasion of the renal calices, infundibulum, pelvis or ureter. Demographic and survival data were obtained from medical records and an institutional cancer registry for tumors invading the urothelium. Stage specific survival data were then compared with tumors not involving the urinary collecting system. RESULTS: Definitive urothelial involvement by the primary tumor was interpretable in 426 of 504 kidneys. Invasion of the collecting system was identified in 61 of 426 cases (14%). Mean diameter of the invading lesions was 10.2 cm. (range 3 to 26). The majority of cases showed clear cell and sarcomatoid histology. Invasion by a papillary lesion was rare. Involvement of the collecting system was most common at the renal poles. Of 61 lesions invading the collecting system 48 (79%) were stage pT3 or greater, while only 13 (21%) were pathologically localized stage pT2 or less. Vascular invasion was identified in 38 renal cell carcinoma cases (62%) with urothelial involvement. A total of 16 cases (26%) were associated with vena caval thrombus. Invading tumors were high Fuhrman grade III or IV in 43 cases (70%). Overall disease specific survival was poor with a median of 19 months. In patients with localized stage pT1 or pT2N0M0 disease and urothelial invasion median disease specific survival was 46 months. CONCLUSIONS: Renal cell carcinoma lesions involving the renal collecting system are characteristically large, high grade and high stage. Clear cell carcinoma most commonly invades, while invasion by papillary tumors is rare. Overall the prognosis for high stage lesions with urothelial involvement is poor and does not appear significantly different from the reported disease specific survival of patients with high stage lesions without urothelial invasion. Localized tumors 4 cm. or less, which are amenable to elective nephron sparing surgery, rarely invade the urothelium. However, when a low stage pT2 or less renal lesion involves the urinary space, survival appears worse than equivalently staged renal cell carcinoma without invasion. Including urothelial invasion into current TNM staging systems for renal cell carcinoma is unlikely to provide significant additional prognostic or therapeutic information.     

Renal cell carcinoma extending into the inferior vena cava: the prognostic significance of the level of vena caval involvement

The records of 24 patients with renal cell carcinoma involving the inferior vena cava who were free of metastatic disease at presentation were reviewed retrospectively. The over-all 2-year survival for the group was 45.8 per cent, with a mean survival of 38.9 months. When the group was analyzed according to the level of extension of the vena caval thrombus marked differences in the rate of survival and of incidence of local progression of disease were found. The 10 patients with an infrahepatic vena caval thrombus had a 2-year survival rate of 80 per cent and a mean survival of 61.4 months. Two patients (20 per cent) had extension of tumor into the perinephric fat and none had involvement of the regional lymph nodes. The 14 patients with a vena caval thrombus extending to the level of the hepatic veins or beyond had a 2-year survival rate of 21 per cent and a mean survival of 22.9 months. Tumor was present in the regional lymph nodes and/or perinephric fat in 9 of these patients (64 per cent). These results suggest that the level of vena caval involvement by tumor thrombus in patients with renal cell carcinoma has prognostic significance.     

TNM T3a renal cell carcinoma: adrenal gland involvement is not the same as renal fat invasion

PURPOSE: Upper pole tumors with direct extension into the adrenal gland are currently staged as pT3a tumors in the 1997 TNM staging system. To determine whether the clinical behavior of pT3a adrenal tumors differs from that of tumors with perinephric fat invasion (also stage pT3a) a retrospective analysis was performed. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Of 1,087 patients who underwent nephrectomy 27 were identified with direct adrenal involvement and 187 were identified with perinephric fat or renal sinus involvement. Variables and outcomes analyzed in each group included the percent of patients with metastatic disease at presentation, lymph node involvement, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group score, response to immunotherapy, and median and overall survival using Kaplan-Meier curves. RESULTS: Median survival for patients with pT3a disease and perinephric or renal sinus fat involvement was 36 months with a 36% 5-year cancer specific survival rate. In contrast, patients with adrenal gland invasion had significantly worse survival at a median of 12.5 months and a 0% 5-year cancer specific survival rate (p <0.001), which was similar to median survival of those with stage pT4 disease (11 months). CONCLUSIONS: Upper pole tumors with direct extension into the adrenal gland predict significantly worse survival than similarly staged tumors with fat invasion and they have a prognosis similar to that of stage pT4 disease. While these data await external validation, consideration should be given to re-categorizing tumors with direct adrenal gland involvement as stage pT4 or in a subcategory such as pT4a.     

Prognostic value of venous tumor thrombus in renal cell carcinoma

ObjectiveTo evaluate the prognostic value of venous tumor thrombus in renal cell carcinoma.Material and methodsA retrospective study of 167 patients with renal cell carcinoma and stage pT3 who underwent radical nephrectomy and extended lymphadenectomy from July 1969 to May 2008 was conducted. Patients with any kind of venous involvement were selected for the analysis (73 patients; 43.7%). The Kaplan Meier survival curves and log-rank test for comparisons were used for the survival analysis. Multivariate analysis was done by Cox regression.ResultsLymph node involvement was present in 30 patients (41.1%) and metastatic disease in 9 patients (12.3%). The most frequent histologic renal cell carcinoma subtype was 50 (68.5%) conventional carcinoma, followed by nondifferentiated in 11 (15.5%), and chromophobe in 9 (12.3%). High grade tumors (Furhman 3-4) were present in 57% of the cases. Venous thrombus level extended to renal vein in 61 patients (83.6%), to inferior vena cava in 9 patients (12.3%) and to the cardiac right atrium in 3 cases (4.1%). The survival analysis showed worse survival in those patients with venous tumor thrombosis (p=.001) and with vein wall invasion (p=.0042), but not in function on the level of the thrombus (p=.12). The multivariate analysis identified the Furhman grade and venous tumor thrombosis as independent survival prognostic factors.ConclusionsIn our series, venous tumor thrombosis, together with the Furhman nuclear grade, is an independent survival prognostic factor. However, neither cephalic extension of the thrombus nor the invasion of the vein wall showed independent prognostic value.     

Current TNM classification of renal cell carcinoma evaluated: revising stage T3a

PURPOSE:: Recent studies of rare cases of pT3a renal cell carcinoma extending directly into the adrenal gland showed worse survival than in other pT3a cases and recategorization as stage pT4 was suggested. We assessed the prognostic validity of a stage pT3a diagnosis based on perirenal fat infiltration. MATERIALS AND METHODS:: The records of 1,794 patients with renal cell carcinoma who underwent surgical resection between 1975 and 2000 at our institution were analyzed retrospectively. Focusing on pT3a tumors, as defined by perirenal fat infiltration, numerous clinical and histopathological parameters were investigated by univariate and multivariate statistical methods with cancer specific survival as the primary end point. RESULTS:: We identified 237 of 1,794 patients with perirenal fat infiltration, classified as having pT3a disease. In patients with pT3a tumors tumor size was a significant parameter predicting survival. The most significant cutoff value for tumor size in pT3a disease was 7 cm. Patients with distant metastasis had a worse prognosis independent of T classification. Therefore, to assess the prognostic value of the current T classification in regard to T3a tumors we excluded patients with tumor stage cM+ for further subgroup analysis. Survival comparison of pT1 pNall, cM0 (744 of 1,794 cases) and pT3a pNall, cM0 7 cm or less (100 of 237) as well as pT2 pNall, cM0 (265 of 1,794) and pT3a pNall, cM0 greater than 7 cm (93 of 237) yielded similar results. After splitting pT3a into a modified T1/T2 classification a significant difference in 5-year survival analysis for a modified T1/T2 stage was found (pT1 plus pT3a less than 7 cm 90% vs pT2 plus pT3a greater than 7 cm 73%, p <0.001). Subsequently multivariate analysis in all 1,794 patients showed that modified T stage was an independent significant predictor of cancer specific survival. CONCLUSIONS:: We suggest revising the current pT3a classification based on perirenal fat infiltration but rendering a modified pT1/pT2 classification, which resolves pT3a cases without the loss of prognostic validity. Perirenal fat infiltration should not be used to assign T category. Tumors directly infiltrating the adrenal gland should be reclassified as T4.     

SHOULD DIRECT IPSILATERAL ADRENAL INVASION FROM RENAL CELL CARCINOMA BE CLASSIFIED AS pT3a?

PURPOSE: The 2002 American Joint Committee on Cancer primary tumor classification for renal cell carcinoma (RCC) defines a tumor as pT3a if it invades the perinephric or renal sinus fat or directly invades the ipsilateral adrenal gland. In the current study we evaluated the association of direct ipsilateral adrenal invasion with outcome to determine if reclassification of these tumors as pT4 would improve the accuracy of the current tumor classification. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We studied 424 patients who underwent nephrectomy and adrenalectomy for unilateral, sporadic, pT3 or pT4 RCC between 1970 and 2000 at the Mayo Clinic. Cancer specific survival was estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method. RESULTS: Cancer specific survival for the 22 patients with pT3a or pT3b tumors that directly invaded the ipsilateral adrenal gland was significantly worse compared with that of patients with pT3a (p <0.001) or pT3b (p = 0.011) disease that did not invade the adrenal gland. There was no significant difference in the 5-year cancer specific survival between the patients with pT3a or pT3b tumors that directly invaded the ipsilateral adrenal gland and patients with pT4 tumors (cancer specific survival rates of 20% and 14%, respectively, p = 0.490). CONCLUSIONS: Although rare, RCC with direct ipsilateral adrenal invasion behaves more aggressively than tumors involving perinephric or renal sinus fat. We believe that RCC tumors with direct adrenal invasion should be classified as pT4.     

Renal carcinoma with invasion of the suprahepatic vena cava (Staehler stage III and IV): surgical treatment and results

The operative treatment of patients with renal cell carcinoma (RCC) and suprahepatic infradiaphragmatic or supradiaphragmatic vena cava invasion (Staehler stage III and IV) is still an interdisciplinary challenge. The potential high complication rate and the enormous operative-technical efforts have to be brought into line with the individual benefit for the patient. In this study, we have retrospectively analyzed the operative results of 24 patients. We have further compared the patients during follow-up and immunotherapy due to metastasis with a control group of 75 patients without vena cava invasion. Perioperative mortality in the 24 patients was 4%. Four patients had metastasis at presentation and 14 further patients developed metastatic disease during median follow-up of 23.5 months. Median survival was 45 months with a 1-, 3-, and 5-year survival rate of 92, 57, and 33%, respectively. In a multivariate analysis, only the presence of metastasis (p=0.002) and marginal immunotherapy (p=0.1), but not vena cava invasion (p=0.259) or a positive lymph node status (p=0.624) were significant predictors of a poor survival. For patients with RCC and suprahepatic infradiaphragmatic or supradiaphragmatic vena cava invasion (Staehler stage III and IV), the combination of an aggressive surgical treatment combined with subsequent immunotherapy in the presence of metastatic disease offers a realistic therapeutic option with reasonable survival rates.     

CANCER SPECIFIC SURVIVAL FOR PATIENTS WITH pT3 RENAL CELL CARCINOMA—CAN THE 2002 PRIMARY TUMOR CLASSIFICATION BE IMPROVED?

PURPOSE: The 2002 primary tumor classification for renal cell carcinoma (RCC) does not distinguish between patients with tumor thrombus involving the renal vein only and those with inferior vena cava tumor thrombus below the diaphragm. We evaluated the association of tumor thrombus level and fat invasion with outcome to determine if further subclassification would improve the prognostic accuracy of the current classification. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We studied 675 patients treated with radical nephrectomy or nephron sparing surgery for pT3a (206, 30.5%), pT3b (422, 62.5%), pT3c (19, 2.8%) or pT4 (28, 4.2%) RCC at the Mayo Clinic between 1970 and 2000. Associations with outcome were evaluated using Cox proportional hazards regression. RESULTS: There were 531 deaths from RCC at a median of 1.5 years following nephrectomy. Patients with pT3b RCC and level I, II or III tumor thrombus were significantly more likely to die of RCC compared to patients with pT3b RCC and level 0 tumor thrombus (risk ratio 1.62, p <0.001). Patients with peripheral perinephric or renal sinus fat invasion were also more likely to die of RCC compared to patients without fat invasion (risk ratio 1.87, p <0.001). Therefore, patients with pT3 RCC were reclassified into 4 groups as thrombus level 0 without fat invasion, fat invasion only, thrombus level 0 with fat invasion or thrombus level I, II or III without fat invasion, and thrombus level I, II or III with fat invasion or thrombus level IV. This reclassification significantly improved prediction of death from RCC compared with the current classification (c indexes of 0.61 versus 0.55, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Further subclassification of the primary tumor classification for patients with pT3 RCC improved prognostic accuracy.     

Renal cell carcinoma with tumor thrombus extension: biology,role of nephrectomy and response to immunotherapy

PURPOSE: We outline the biology, prognosis and role of immunotherapy for renal cell carcinoma with gross venous tumor thrombus. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 207 patients with unilateral renal cell carcinoma and tumor thrombus into the renal vein (107) and inferior vena cava (100) who underwent nephrectomy and thrombectomy were compared with 607 without tumor thrombus. RESULTS: At diagnosis 77 patients (37%) had N0M0 disease and 130 (63%) had lymph node (N+) or distant (M1) metastases. Compared with nontumor thrombus cases tumor thrombus was associated with more advanced stage, N+ (26% versus 12%), M1 (54% versus 31%) disease, higher grade and Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status. In N0M0 cases with inferior vena caval tumor thrombus capsular penetration, collecting system invasion and extension into the hepatic vein were more important prognostic variables then the level of inferior vena caval thrombus. In patients with confined N0M0 tumors mean 2 and 5-year survival +/- SD was 83% +/- 8.8% and 72% +/- 10.7% in those with inferior vena caval tumor thrombus, and 90% +/- 9.4% and 68% +/- 16.1% in those with renal vein tumor thrombus, similar to the 93.4% +/- 1.7% and 81 +/- 3.1% rates, respectively, in those without thrombus who had no recurrence within 6 months after nephrectomy. Of patients with M1 disease in whom cytoreductive surgery was done those with and without thrombus showed a similar response to immunotherapy. When there was inferior vena caval and renal vein thrombus, mean 2-year survival was higher after nephrectomy and immunotherapy than after nephrectomy alone (41% +/- 9% and 52% +/- 7% versus 32% +/- 13% and 45% +/- 7%), immunotherapy alone (0% and 13% +/- 12%, respectively) and no treatment (0%). CONCLUSIONS: Renal cell carcinoma with tumor thrombus is associated with worse characteristics. Local tumor extension has greater prognostic importance than the level of inferior vena caval tumor thrombus. Survival is fair in patients with truly confined N0M0 disease and thrombus. The combination of surgery and immunotherapy has a role in thrombus cases. Our data provide the rationale for a prospective study of adjuvant immunotherapy after surgery in N0M0 cases with extensive tumor thrombus.     

肾和肾上腺恶性肿瘤合并下腔静脉瘤栓的外科治疗

目的 提高肾和肾上腺恶性肿瘤伴下腔静脉瘤栓的治疗效果.方法 1985年1月至2008年4月收治肾和肾上腺恶性肿瘤合并下腔静脉瘤栓患者29例,均经彩色多普勒超声、CT及MRI检查确诊.瘤栓分型:I型7例、Ⅱ型10例、Ⅲ型8例、Ⅳ型4例.其中肾上腺肿瘤4例,肾肿瘤25例.TNM分期:T2NoMo 23例,T2N1Mo 1例,T2N1M1 1例,T3N.Mo 1例,T3N1M1 2例,T3N2Mo 1例.肿瘤平均直径8.7(4.O～16.0)cm.瘤栓平均长度:I型3.2(2.5～4.O)cm,Ⅱ型5.3(4.5～6.O)cm,Ⅲ型8.2(6.5～9.0)cm,IV型15.1(12.O～18.5)cm.29例均在全麻下行肾或肾上腺肿瘤根治性切除加下腔静脉瘤栓切除术.结果 29例手术均获成功.术后病理报告:肾透明细胞癌18例、肾肉瘤样癌3例、肾乳头腺癌2例、肾细胞癌(未分化型)1例、肾颗粒细胞癌1例、肾上腺皮质癌3例、肾上腺转移性恶性黑色索瘤1例.失访3例,余26例平均随访35(0～62)个月,患者3年生存率58%(15/26),5年生存率42%(11/26).T2、T3患者3年生存率分别为64%(14/22)、25%(1/4),5年生存率分别为45%(10/22)、25%(1/4).I、II、Ⅲ和Ⅳ型瘤栓患者3年生存率分别为4/6、5/8、5/8和1/4,5年生存率分别为3/6、4/8、3/8和1/4.膈肌以下瘤栓患者3、5年生存率分别为64%(14/22)、45%(10/22),膈肌以上瘤栓患者分别为1/4、1/4.肾和肾上腺恶性肿瘤伴下腔静脉瘤栓无转移患者的3、5年生存率为12/18、9/18,有转移患者分别为3/8、2/8.3例术前出现转移患者生存时间分别为6、10、22个月.结论 根治性肿瘤切除和下腔静脉取栓治疗无淋巴和远处转移的肾和肾上腺恶性肿瘤合并下腔静脉瘤栓效果良好;即使存在远处转移,外科手术仍可以提高患者生活质量,延长患者生存期.     

Surgical management and prognosis of renal cell carcinoma invading the vena cava

A total of 44 patients with renal cell carcinoma and vena caval tumor thrombus underwent surgical resection. Of these patients 27 had primary tumor confined within Gerota's fascia, negative lymph nodes and no distant metastases (stage T3cN0M0). Patients who underwent extraction of a mobile tumor thrombus from the vena cava had a 69% 5-year survival rate (median 9.9 years) but patients with tumor thrombus directly invading the vena cava had a 26% 5-year survival rate (median 1.2 years), which improved to 57% (median 5.3 years) if the involved vena caval side wall was resected successfully. Of these patients 17 had renal cell carcinoma with vena caval thrombus as well as extrafascial extension, regional lymphadenopathy or distant metastases, and the 5-year survival rate was less than 18% in all groups (median survival less than 0.9 years). Prognosis was determined by the pathological stage of the renal cell carcinoma and by the presence or absence of vena caval side wall invasion but not by the level of tumor thrombus extension. Patients with incomplete resection of localized renal cell carcinoma with tumor thrombus do not survive any longer than those with extensive cancer, positive lymph nodes or distant metastases. However, when partial venacavectomy establishes negative surgical margins then survival markedly improves.     

Vena caval resection in bulky metastatic germ cell tumors

We describe the operative management and followup of vena caval resection in 12 patients with thrombosis of the inferior vena cava secondary to bulky metastatic (stage B3 or IIC) germ cell tumors. All patients received induction chemotherapy (10 platinum-based) followed by retroperitoneal lymph node dissection. The inferior vena cava was resected from just below the renal veins to the bifurcation of the iliac veins. Complete resection of retroperitoneal disease was accomplished in all patients. Five patients had postoperative complications, including 2 small bowel obstructions, 1 prolonged ileus and 2 persistent lymphatic leaks. Mean hospital stay was 37 days (range 27 to 49 days) versus 12 days (range 8 to 16 days) for noncomplicated recoveries. No long-term sequelae related to the vena caval resection have occurred with followup of 24 to 80 months. Seven patients are without disease, with a mean followup of 36 months (range 24 to 60 months). We conclude that en bloc vena caval resection for thrombosis of the vena cava allows for complete resection and simplifies the procedure with acceptable morbidity.     

Solitary floating vena caval thrombus as a late recurrence of renal cell carcinoma

We report an unusual case of solitary thrombus floating in the inferior vena cava (IVC) in a patient who underwent radical nephrectomy for a renal cell carcinoma (RCC) of the right kidney extended into the renal vein with no capsular and perinephric tissue invasion (pT3b). Twenty months after surgery, a routine computed tomography scan identified an intraluminal mass floating in the IVC. Cavotomy and thrombectomy with no caval resection were successfully performed. A review of the literature showed only three previous published cases of RCC recurring in the IVC only, with no local recurrence or distant metastases. We outline the possible etiology of these unusual and solitary recurrences in the IVC and we emphasize the need for a strict surveillance for all patients with RCC and especially for those with pT1b, pT2 and pT3 disease. An early diagnosis of this rare recurrence can permit an easy removal of the thrombus with no caval resection and graft replacement, making this disease potentially curable by surgery.     

经皮球囊导管阻断技术在下腔静脉瘤栓切除术中的应用

目的 探讨经皮球囊导管阻断技术在下腔静脉瘤栓切除术中的应用价值. 方法 经CT、MRI及彩色多普勒超声等检查确诊为肾或肾上腺肿瘤合并肝后型或肝下型下腔静脉瘤栓患者12例.男7例,女5例.年龄20～76岁,平均51岁.右侧肿瘤11例,左侧1例.肾肿瘤11例,肾上腺肿瘤1例.12例均于术前经皮穿刺右侧颈内静脉,于瘤栓近心端下腔静脉内预置一球囊导管,术中经导管充盈球囊阻断下腔静脉后,再行下腔静脉瘤栓切除术. 结果 12例肿瘤合并下腔静脉瘤栓的根治性切除术全部完成.手术时间210～670 min,平均324 min.术中出血量600～7960 ml,平均2563 ml.无手术或围手术期死亡.术后患者恢复良好,肝肾功能正常,无并发症发生.术后平均12(9～15)d出院.术后病理报告:肾细胞癌9例,转移性肝细胞癌1例,良性血管平滑肌脂肪瘤1例,肾上腺平滑肌肉瘤1例.肾癌术后TNM分期:T3b N0M08例,T3bNxM11例.术后平均随访(21±10)个月,中位随访时间24个月.4例分别于术后6、9、15、22个月死于肺转移、肝转移及肝癌复发,其余8例术后已存活6～35个月,平均26个月.9例肾癌患者术后1、3年肿瘤特异生存率分别为78%和67%. 结论 经皮球囊导管阻断技术在低位肝后型或肝下型下腔静脉瘤栓的根治性切除术中是一种安全、简便、有效的方法,具有重要的临床应用价值.     

Renal sinus involvement in renal cell carcinomas

The renal sinus is the fatty compartment located within the confines of the kidney not delineated from the renal cortex by a fibrous capsule. Because it contains numerous veins and lymphatics, invasion into this compartment may permit dissemination of a tumor otherwise regarded as renal-limited. Thirty-one consecutive renal carcinomas were studied: 22 clear cell renal cell carcinomas (3 multilocular cystic renal cell carcinomas), 4 chromophobe renal carcinomas, and 5 papillary renal carcinomas. The entire interface between the neoplasm and the sinus was embedded. Seventeen carcinomas did not invade the renal sinus and 16 were pT1 or pT2 tumors. Fourteen carcinomas, 13 clear cell renal cell carcinoma and one chromophobe renal carcinoma, invaded the renal sinus fat, and 9 of 14 invaded the lumen of renal sinus veins (all clear cell renal carcinomas). Although 14 of 22 clear cell renal carcinomas appeared to be renal limited pT1 and pT2 cancers, 6 of 14 carcinomas invaded sinus fat and 4 invaded into the lumen of renal sinus veins. Compared with the nine sinus-negative clear cell renal cell carcinomas, the 13 sinus-positive cancers were larger, exhibited more frequent renal capsule and renal vein involvement, and had higher nuclear grades. Renal sinus invasion was most common in clear cell renal cell carcinomas but was uncommon (one in 12) in 3 more indolent renal cell carcinomas: multilocular cystic renal cell carcinoma, chromophobe renal carcinoma, and papillary renal carcinoma. The follow-up period was short (1-17 months), but metastases developed in four of 31 cases. In three cases with metastases, carcinoma had involved the lumen of sinus veins but not the main renal vein, although two of three had also invaded through the renal capsule. This study shows that in carcinomas which appear to be renal limited (pT1/pT2), seven of 23 (30.4%) had invaded sinus fat and four of 23 (17.4%) had invaded sinus veins. We conclude that renal sinus invasion, especially sinus vein invasion, could identify a patient at risk for metastases even in a putative renal limited tumor, and suggest that all cases be examined for this feature. Renal sinus invasion merits further investigation to establish its prognostic importance and possible incorporation into future revisions of the TNM staging system for renal cell carcinomas.     

METASTATIC RENAL CELL CARCINOMA WITH CONCURRENT INFERIOR VENA CAVAL INVASION: LONG-TERM SURVIVAL AFTER COMBINATION THERAPY WITH RADICAL NEPHRECTOMY, VENA CAVAL THROMBECTOMY AND POSTOPERATIVE IMMUNOTHERAPY

PURPOSE: We report our experience using aggressive multimodal therapy in a high risk group of patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma and concurrent inferior vena caval extension. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the records of all patients in our kidney cancer database who had metastatic renal cell carcinoma and tumor thrombus extension into the inferior vena cava at the initial diagnosis. Patients were included in the study if they underwent radical nephrectomy and inferior venal caval thombectomy, and immunotherapy was planned for the postoperative period. Tumor size and grade, metastatic sites, level of vena caval extension, surgical complications and overall survival were obtained from the medical records. The primary end point analyzed was overall survival. RESULTS: We identified 31 cases of metastatic renal cell cancer with extensive disease and vena caval extension. Of the patients 23% had an isolated lung metastasis, and 53% had metastasis in the lung and at other sites. The remaining patients had involvement primarily at nonpulmonary metastatic sites, including lymph node in 38%, soft tissue in 13%, liver in 29% and bone in 10%. Average blood loss during nephrectomy was 3,200 cc (median 2,100) and the rate of major complications was 12%. Of the patients 80% underwent the full course of surgery and postoperative immunotherapy. At a mean followup of 18 months (34 for survivors) 26% of the patients are alive. Actuarial overall 5-year survival of the group was 17%. Tumor thrombus level did not correlate with overall survival, while immunotherapy, tumor grade and metastatic site provided significant prognostic information. In patients with an isolated pulmonary metastasis the 5-year survival rate was 43%, while in those with low grade tumors it was 52%. CONCLUSIONS: In contrast to the poor results of surgery only in patients with renal cell carcinoma and concurrent inferior venal caval invasion, reasonable 5-year survival may be achieved after combined aggressive surgery and immunotherapy. Patients in whom metastasis was limited to the lungs and those with grade 1 to 2 tumors had a better prognosis. With careful planning and experienced immunotherapists therapy may be completed in the majority of this high risk group of patients.     

Neoplasia renal con extensión a la vena cava

Renal cancer with vena cava tumour thrombus is relatively rare (4 to 10%). Because of the poor results obtained with any kind of alternative therapy (e.g. radiation, hormonal, chemotherapy and immunotherapy) operation with complete removal of the vena cava tumour thrombus continues to be the better method of treatment. The prognostic significance of the cephalic extent of an inferior vena caval tumor thrombus associated with renal cell carcinoma is controversial. Long-term survival after surgical treatment is possible in patients with localized renal cell carcinoma (survival 50% at five years). The authors report a case of vena caval extension of renal cell carcinoma in a 70-years-old man. The patient presented with a history of right lombar pain and pedal edema. Magnetic Ressonance demonstrated the presence and the level of tumoral thrombus. The patient was submitted to a radical nefrectomy and complete removal of tumor thrombus from vena caval