Babu S C, Mianoni T, Shah P M, Goyal A, Choudhury M, Eshghi M, Moggio R A, Sarabu M R, Lafaro R J
Department of Urology, New York Medical College, Westchester Medical Center, Valhalla 10595, USA.
Am J Surg. 1998 Aug;176(2):137-9. doi: 10.1016/s0002-9610(98)00170-6.
Management of malignant renal tumors involving the inferior vena cava (IVC) depends on tumor extension within the cava.
Of 295 patients treated for renal cancer, propagation of tumor mass through the renal vein to IVC was seen in 22 (7%) patients. Cephalad extension of the tumor was suprarenal: infrahepatic in 12, retrohepatic in 6, and within the right atrium in 4 patients. All patients had radical nephrectomy, cavotomy, and complete resection of tumors except 1 with diffuse peritoneal metastasis.
Twenty-one patients had curative resections. No operative deaths and no instances of pulmonary embolism or exsanguination occurred. Seventeen patients were alive at 2 years and 12 at 5 years, resulting in 77% and 55% survival rates, respectively.
An aggressive approach for vena cava involvement from malignant renal neoplasms resulted in prevention of tumor embolus, minimization of blood loss, and maintenance of venous return to the heart.
