Ultrasonic detection of renal tubular carcinoma extending into the inferior vena cava.

Extension of renal tubular carcinoma into the ipsilateral renal vein and vena cava has been reported to occur in about 5 per cent of the cases. In those patients without demonstrable metastases the 5-year survival rate with aggressive surgical management is 50 per cent. The preoperative diagnosis of tumor extension into the vena cava is important when planning a surgical procedure. A high degree of clinical suspicion, coupled with invasive preoperative roentgenographic evaluation has been the mainstay of diagnosis. We report a case in which gray scale ultrasonography proved to be an important diagnostic test for delineating the extent of a vena cava tumor thrombus.