Multidisciplinary management of testicular cancer complicated by thrombosis of the inferior vena cava: a case report

Introduction: Testicular cancer is a rare disease, most commonly seen in young adults. It represents 1% of solid cancers in men. Inferior vena cava (IVC) thrombosis remains a rare complication of testicular cancer and is often associated with a high risk of pulmonary embolism (PE).

Case report: The authors report a case of a 26-year-old man presenting with advanced testicular cancer, left-sided retroperitoneal metastasis and parietal infiltration of the IVC complicated with thrombosis of the left iliac vein and the IVC, both responsible for PE.

Discussion: A multidisciplinary management which included curative excision of the lesions, placement of a temporary IVC filter and adjuvant chemotherapy permitted an optimal approach. No complications occurred and the post-operative healing was uneventful. No recurrences were observed on the long-term follow-up.

Conclusions: IVC Thrombosis is a rare complication that should be taken into consideration when diagnosing testicular cancer. Prompt diagnosis is crucial to minimize the risk of PE which can be life-threatening.