Surgical treatment of renal cell carcinoma with tumor thrombus in inferior vena cava

Removal of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) extended into the inferior vena cava (IVC) can be a difficult operation. Between 1941 and 1989, 110 RCC patients were treated with radical operation and examined for tumor thrombus histopathologically. Twenty nine (26.3%) patients had invasion into the returning vein of tumor (Stage Vla), 12 (10.9%) in renal vein (stage Vlb) and the remaining 4 (3.6%) into IVC (stage V2). In one patient who had surgery under extracorporeal circulation, a thrombus was extended into the right atrium. In the remaining three patients, the RCC was confined to a small portion of the IVC and operated by caval sleeve resection. Radical operation in such patients free of any distant metastasis, may raise the survival rate.     

Surgical management of renal cell carcinoma with inferior vena cava tumor thrombus

BACKGROUND: The successful excision of a renal cell carcinoma (RCC) invading the inferior vena cava (IVC) remains a technical intraoperative challenge and requires a careful preoperative surgical management planning. Although a radical operation remains the mainstay of the therapy for RCC, the optimal management of the patients with RCC causing IVC tumor thrombus remains unresolved. In this study, we reviewed our experience in this group of patients and herein report the results. METHODS: Between July 1990 and August 1998, 11 patients with RCC with IVC tumor thrombus underwent surgical treatment. The mean patient age was 54.2 years and the male to female ratio was 1.75. The cephalad extension of the tumor was suprarenal in all cases, being infrahepatic in 6 patients, intrahepatic in 2, and suprahepatic with right atrial extension in 3 patients. All tumors were resected via inferior vena cava isolation and, when necessary, extended hepatic mobilization and Pringle maneuver, with primary or patch closure of vena cavotomy. Cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) and deep hypothermic circulatory arrest (DHCA) were used in 3 patients. RESULTS: The mortality rate was 9.1% (1 patient was lost on the 11th postoperative day). Complications occurred in 3 patients. The remaining 10 patients (90.9%) could be successfully discharged from hospital. Two of them were lost during follow-up because of tumor progression at the 43rd and 54th postoperative months. The 10-year Kaplan-Meier survival estimate was 71.4%, with a mean follow-up of 4.6 years. The presence of lymph node metastases and perinephric spread seemed to possess an adverse effect on the survival. Although the groups included small numbers of patients, there was no significant difference in survival in regard to the different levels of tumor thrombus extension into the vena cava. CONCLUSIONS: Surgical treatment is the preferred approach to patients with RCC and IVC tumor thrombi as it provides markedly better results when compared with the other therapeutical modalities. We believe that complete surgical excision of the tumor and the resulting thrombus with appropriate preoperative staging and a well-planned surgical approach, using CPB and DHCA when necessary, provide an acceptable long-term survival with a good quality of life expectation.     

肾癌伴下腔静脉癌栓4例的手术治疗

目的：提高肾癌（RCC）伴下腔静脉（IVC）癌栓的手术治疗效果。方法：对4例RCC伴IVC癌栓患者在施行肾癌根治性切除、淋巴结清除的同时分别选择行IVC切开、IVC壁切除和IVC节段切除取癌栓术。结果：手术均获成功，无大出血、肺梗塞，术后血尿素氮、肌酐均无明显异常。随访13-34月患者均健在。结论：对本病应采取积极的手术治疗。三种手术方案的选择应取决于癌栓的长度、水平、分型等。     

Management of renal cell carcinoma with inferior vena cava tumor thrombus

OBJECTIVE: The prognostic implication of radical nephrectomy with inferior vena cava tumor thrombectomy for renal cell carcinoma is still controversial. We investigated the type of renal cell carcinoma with vena cava tumor thrombus for which surgical resection was beneficial. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the records of 16 patients with renal cell carcinoma and inferior vena cava tumor thrombus. Of these, 10 received surgical treatment and 6 did not. We evaluated the association between the pretreatment serum C-reactive protein (CRP) level and the efficacy of surgery. RESULTS: Among the 8 patients with an elevated pretreatment serum CRP level (CRP > or = 1.0 ng/ml), there was no significant difference of the median disease-specific survival between those who did (20.2 months) and did not undergo surgery (8.2 months; p = 0.1946). On the other hand, among the 8 patients who had a pretreatment serum CRP level within normal limits (CRP < 1.0 ng/ml), the median disease-specific survival of those who did not undergo surgery (80.6 months) was significantly better than that of those who did (50.2 months; p = 0.0136). CONCLUSION: This study suggested that conservative treatment can be recommended for patients with renal cell carcinoma and inferior vena cava tumor thrombus when the pretreatment serum CRP level is normal because tumor progression is usually slow and surgical treatment may actually worsen the prognosis.     

肝癌合并下腔静脉癌栓的外科治疗

目的总结7例肝癌合并下腔静脉（inferior vena cava,IVC）癌栓患者的手术方法及治疗经验。方法自2003年7月至2005年5月,我们为7例肝癌合并IVC癌栓的患者实施了肝癌切除及右心房和（或）IVC切开取栓手术。所有患者均采用全肝血流阻断来控制IVC血流。根据癌栓上极位置的不同,分别采用5种不同术式：（1）静脉转流,心脏停搏,右心房及下腔静脉切开取栓1例;（2）静脉转流,心脏不停搏,心包内高位阻断下腔静脉,右心房和（或）下腔静脉切开取栓2例;（3）经腹部切口切开膈肌,心包内高位阻断下腔静脉,下腔静脉切开取栓1例;（4）经腹部切口,经膈肌腔静脉裂孔小切口,心包外高位阻断肝上下腔静脉,下腔静脉切开取栓1例;（5）经腹部切口,肝上阻断下腔静脉,下腔静脉切开取栓2例。结果所有手术均获成功,术后并发症包括胸腔积液2例,右膈下积液1例,切口感染1例。7例患者的生存时间为2周～26个月,平均9．8个月。已死亡的6例患者术后生存时间分别为13、9、11、2、17个月和2周,尚生存的1例患者已无瘤生存26个月。结论对合适病例实施肝癌切除和IVC切开取栓手术是安全可行的。手术治疗可以避免右心流人道阻塞和肺动脉栓塞造成的猝死,并有可能获得相对提高的生存时间和生活质量。     

Surgical management of renal cell carcinoma with vena cava tumor thrombus

The results of the surgical management of 28 patients with renal cell carcinoma extending into the inferior vena cava have been analyzed. 8 patients had caval tumor thrombus extension at the level of the renal veins, 14 had infrahepatic, 5 retrohepatic and 1 atrial tumor thrombus extension. The caval wall was infiltrated by tumor in 7 cases. 9 patients had metastases. Lymph node involvement was seen in 9 patients. Life-table analysis of all 28 patients revealed on overall probability of survival of 32 and 9% at 2 and 5 years, respectively. The patients with caval involvement alone (N0M0) had a 2-year survival rate of 69%. Those with distant metastases or caval infiltration had a 2-year survival of 27 and 0% (p = NS). The level of caval tumor thrombus extension had a statistically insignificant influence on the survival of patients. In fact the 2-year survival rates of patients with caval thrombus at the level of the renal veins, below the large hepatic veins and above the large hepatic veins were 30, 36 and 32%, respectively. Our statistical data demonstrate that caval involvement has a very negative impact on the prognosis of patients with renal cancer.     

肝细胞癌合并下腔静脉癌栓的手术治疗

目的 探讨肝细胞癌(简称肝癌)合并下腔静脉癌栓的手术治疗方法。方法 采用肝切除 腔静脉取栓治疗4例肝癌合并下腔静脉癌栓患者,取栓方法包括经荷栓肝静脉取栓(1例)和下腔静脉切开取栓(3例),后者又分在全肝血流阻断下取栓(2例)和在萨氏钳局部血管阻断下取栓(1例)。结果 4例肝癌及下腔静脉癌栓均得到成功切除,术中无明显并发症发生;术后除l例发生中等量胸水外,无其他并发症发生;随访中3例已死亡,分别生存30、10和14个月;1例尚存活,已生存7个月。结论 肝癌合并下腔静脉癌栓的手术治疗安全可行,其基本术式为肝切除 下腔静脉切开取栓。     

Surgical outcomes for older patients with renal cell carcinoma and inferior vena cava thrombus

ObjectivesTo compare the surgical and oncological outcomes of older patients undergoing surgery for renal cell carcinoma (RCC) with a tumor in the inferior vena cava (IVC) and those of younger patients.Materials and methodsWe retrospectively evaluated 123 patients who underwent surgery for RCC-IVC at two institutions between 2008 and 2019. We classified them into the ≥70 years and the <70 years group, based on their age during surgery. The patients’ perioperative outcomes as well as survival (overall survival [OS] and cancer-specific survival [CSS]) were evaluated and compared before and after 1:1 propensity score matching. Sensitivity analyses were performed at age thresholds of 75 and 80 years.ResultsThe ≥70 and the <70 groups comprised 43 and 80 patients, respectively. Most patients in the ≥70 group demonstrated an American Society of Anesthesiologists score of 2 or 3. They were more likely to have a statistically insignificant high (≥3) Charlson Comorbidity index score (16.3 vs. 6.3%) and a lower hemoglobin level (10.4 vs. 11.7 g/dL) than the <70 group. Eighteen (41.9%) and 32 (40.0%) patients had at least one distant metastasis at the time of surgery in the ≥70 and <70 group, respectively. The complication rates (any grade and grade ≥3), the length of hospitalization, readmission rates, and mortality were comparable between the groups, both before and after matching (all, non-specific). There was no statistically significant difference in the OS (median 66.6 vs. not reached [N.R.], P = 0.695) or CSS (N.R. vs. N.R., P = 0.605) between the groups before matching. The OS and CSS results were similar and comparable following matching (both, non-specific). Further, OS and CSS were comparable between the ≥75 and <75 groups, and between the ≥80 and <80 age groups, respectively.ConclusionThe surgical outcomes of older patients with RCC-IVC were not inferior to those of younger patients. With careful patient selection, surgery can still be a treatment option.     

Robotic renal surgery for renal cell carcinoma with inferior vena cava thrombus

Surgical management of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) with inferior vena cava (IVC) thrombus is inherently complex, posing challenges for even the most experienced urologists. Until the mid-2000s, nephrectomy with IVC thrombectomy was exclusively performed using variations of the open technique initially described decades earlier, but since then several institutions have reported their robotic experiences. Robotic IVC thrombectomy was initially reported for level I and II thrombi, and more recently in higher-lever III thrombi. In general, the robotic approach is associated with less blood loss and shorter hospital stays compared to the open approach, low rates of open conversion in reported cases, relatively low rates of high-grade complications, and favorable overall survival on short-term follow-up in limited cohorts. Operative times are longer, costs are significantly higher, and left-sided tumors always require intraoperative repositioning and usually require preoperative embolization. To date, criteria for patient selection or open conversion have not been defined, and long-term oncologic outcomes are lacking. While the early published robotic experience demonstrates feasibility and safety in carefully selected patients, longer-term follow-up remains necessary. Patient selection, indications for open conversion, logistics of conversion particularly in emergent settings, necessity and safety of preoperative embolization, the value proposition, and long-term oncologic outcomes must all be clearly defined before this approach is widely adopted.     

腹腔镜下微创手术治疗肾癌合并高位肝后下腔静脉癌栓

目的探讨腹腔镜下微创手术治疗肾癌合并高位肝后下腔静脉癌栓的临床经验和文献分析。 方法女性患者,61岁,临床诊断：右肾癌合并高位肝后下腔静脉癌栓。术前全面评估手术风险,组织多学科会诊为患者制定详尽的围手术期治疗与护理方案,拟行腹腔镜下右侧肾癌根治性切除+高位肝后下腔静脉癌栓取出+腹膜后淋巴结清扫术。术后医护密切配合严密观察患者病情变化,进行围手术期观察处理与护理。 结果手术顺利完成,手术时间390 min,无中转开放手术。术中完全游离右侧和左侧肾静脉、肝后下腔静脉直达第二肝门水平远端,近右肾静脉处下腔静脉内侧壁剪开静脉壁,癌栓下部小灶性侵犯静脉壁,切除部分腔静脉壁完整取出癌栓,恢复左侧肾静脉、腔静脉血流回流无障碍。术后病理提示符合透明细胞癌,癌组织侵犯肾窦脂肪,腹膜后淋巴结（-）。术后随访6个月未见肿瘤复发。 结论腹腔镜下微创手术治疗肾癌合并高位肝后下腔静脉癌栓安全可行,多学科协助模式为疑难复杂病例提供了一种新的选择,值得临床进一步推广。     

Stereotactic ablative radiation therapy for renal cell carcinoma with inferior vena cava tumor thrombus

BackgroundInferior vena cava tumor thrombus (IVC-TT) is a rare yet deadly sequel of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) with limited treatment options. The standard treatment is extirpative surgery, which has high rates of morbidity and mortality. As a result, many patients are unfit or unwilling to undergo surgery and face poor prognosis. This stresses the need for alternative options for local disease control. Our study aims to assess the feasibility and oncological outcomes of stereotactic ablative radiation (SAbR) for IVC-TT.MethodsA retrospective study reviewing six leading international institutions’ experience in treating RCC with IVC-TT with SAbR. Primary end point was overall survival using Kaplan-Meier.ResultsFifteen patients were included in the cohort. Over 50% of patients had high level IVC-TT (level III or IV), 66.7% had metastatic disease. Most eschewed surgery due to high surgical risk (7/15) or recurrent thrombus (3/15). All patients received SAbR to the IVC-TT with a median biologically equivalent dose (BED₁₀) of 72 Gy (range: 37.5–100.8) delivered in a median of 5 fractions (range 1–5).Median overall survival was 34 months. Radiographic response was observed in 58% of patients. Symptom palliation was recorded in all patients receiving SAbR for this indication. Only grade 1 to 2 adverse events were noted.ConclusionsSAbR for IVC-TT appears feasible and safe. In patients who are not candidates for surgery, SAbR may palliate symptoms and improve outcomes. SAbR may be considered as part of a multimodal treatment approach for patients with RCC IVC-TT.     

螺旋CT在肾癌伴下腔静脉癌栓诊断中的应用

目的　探讨螺旋CT(SCT)在肾癌伴下腔静脉癌栓诊断中的作用。　方法　对 4例拟诊肾癌伴下腔静脉癌栓患者行SCT扫描 ,获得CT的容积数据进行后处理 ,将诊断结果与手术结果对照。　结果　术前 4例SCT诊断均提示肾癌伴下腔静脉癌栓 ,并能作出肿瘤分期、下腔静脉癌栓分型。手术结果证实SCT诊断正确。　结论　SCT能对肾癌伴下腔静脉癌栓作出明确诊断 ,并为手术提供指导 ,是一种有效的无创检查手段     

肾或肾上腺肿瘤伴下腔静脉瘤栓的手术治疗

目的 小结肾或肾上腺肿瘤伴下腔静脉瘤栓病人的手术经验。探讨有关心血管外科技术的改进。方法 1999年6月至2002年5年完成该类手术12例，在术前准备，切口与显露，心血管外科技术，体外循环方式等方面，结合临床经验，提出一些改进措施，结果 手术效果良好，无手术死亡，随访14-35个月，结果比较满意，仅1例恶性纤维组织细胞瘤术后出院1个月死亡。结论 对有明确适应证的病例，经充分准备，多科室密切合作手术治疗，可以取得良好的疗效，远期疗效评估有待更长时间的随访。     

肾癌伴腔静脉癌栓的手术配合

目的探讨肾癌伴腔静脉癌栓手术的护理配合方法。方法回顾性分析54例肾癌伴腔静脉癌栓患者的临床资料,总结手术前、中、后的护理配合方法和技巧。结果 54例患者中4例因经济困难放弃手术治疗,2例因术中癌栓脱落死亡,余48例均顺利完成手术,无明显并发症,痊愈出院。结论术前详细讨论、精心准备,术中严密配合可以使手术顺利进行,缩短静脉阻断时间,减少并发症,促进患者康复。     

Surgical strategy for treating renal cell carcinoma with thrombus extending into the inferior vena cava

OBJECTIVE: A surgical strategy for treating malignant renal tumors with thrombus extending into the inferior vena cava (IVC) was assessed. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the records for all patients with renal cell carcinoma (RCC; n=30) or Wilms tumor (n=1) with tumor thrombus extending into the IVC who underwent surgical intervention at our institution between January 1980 and December 2001. Tumors were classified preoperatively according to the cephalad extension of thrombus, and intraoperative procedures were selected on the basis of degree of extension. Patients with RCC underwent radical nephrectomy and removal of thrombus with (n=11) or without (n=19) IVC resection. Partial normothermic cardiopulmonary bypass without cardiac arrest was used in 4 patients. The Pringle maneuver was performed in 8 patients. Infrarenal abdominal aortic cross-clamping was used in 8 patients to maintain systemic blood pressure. IVC cross-clamping and the Pringle maneuver were performed in 5 patients with suprahepatic thrombus extension. Temporary placement of a filter in the IVC or plication of the IVC above the hepatic vein was performed before hepatic mobilization, to decrease the risk for pulmonary embolism. RESULTS: One patient died intraoperatively of pulmonary embolism. Postoperative complications occurred in 11 patients; all resolved with conservative therapy. The postoperative duration of survival in patients with RCC was 37 +/- 44 months (range, 4-180 months); the 5-year survival rate was 42%. CONCLUSION: Aortic cross-clamping during IVC occlusion prevented hypotension and maintained hemodynamic stability that has required bypass in other series. This surgical treatment with the less extensive approach could result in long-term survival of patients with RCC in whom tumor thrombus extends into the IVC. We recommend that radical nephrectomy and tumor thrombectomy, with or without caval resection, be performed in these patients, with less invasive additional maneuvers.     

肾癌并肝下型下腔静脉癌栓的手术治疗并文献复习

目的 探讨肾细胞癌并下腔静脉癌栓的手术治疗方法.方法 回顾性分析6例经手术及病理证实的肾细胞癌并肝下型下腔静脉癌栓患者的临床资料,所有病例均行根治性肾切除并癌栓切除术,分别采用下腔静脉切开、下腔静脉部分切除和节段性下腔静脉切除三种方法 取出癌栓.结果 6例手术均获成功,无大出血、肺梗塞等并发症,术后患者恢复良好.其中2例分别于术后38个月和76个月死亡,3例仍健在,平均存活时间为54个月,1例术后18个月后失访.结论 右肾癌并下腔静脉癌栓患者下腔静脉节段性切除能够安全地进行,根治性肾切除并癌栓切除术能够使患者获得长期存活.     

Investigation of 14 renal cell carcinoma cases with tumor thrombus in the inferior vena cava

Renal cell carcinoma tends to progress into the renal vein and inferior vena cava. We investigated 14 cases of renal cell carcinoma with tumor thrombus in the inferior vena cava. Surgery was performed in nine cases and mean survival was 53 months. Two cases are alive 8 years after the operation without recurrence or metastasis. The mean survival of 5 cases without operation was 7 months. Surgical management should be considered as a benefit for RCC patients with tumor thrombus in the inferior vena cava.