Editorial Type:
Article Category: Research Article
 | 
Online Publication Date: Dec 01, 2014

Renal Cell Carcinoma Extending into the Retrohepatic Inferior Vena Cava

MD, MSc,
MD,
MD,
MD,
MD, and
MD
Page Range: 671 – 672
DOI: 10.14503/THIJ-13-3826
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A 69-year-old woman presented with hematuria. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed a left renal mass extending into the retrohepatic inferior vena cava (IVC) (Figs. 1 and 2). Both magnetic resonance imaging of the brain and a bone scan were negative for distant metastases. Intraoperatively, the IVC was cross-clamped below the level of the hepatic veins to prevent dissemination of the intracaval part of the tumor. Left radical nephrectomy and resection of the intracaval part of the tumor mass were successfully performed. The IVC was repaired primarily. The patient tolerated the procedure well and was discharged from the hospital on the 9th postoperative day. The histopathologic report showed papillary renal cell carcinoma, Fuhrman nuclear grade 3 (Figs. 3 and 4).

Fig. 1. Magnetic resonance image of the abdomen shows a large tumor mass (arrows) originating from the left kidney and extending into the retrohepatic portion of the inferior vena cava.Fig. 1. Magnetic resonance image of the abdomen shows a large tumor mass (arrows) originating from the left kidney and extending into the retrohepatic portion of the inferior vena cava.Fig. 1. Magnetic resonance image of the abdomen shows a large tumor mass (arrows) originating from the left kidney and extending into the retrohepatic portion of the inferior vena cava.
Fig. 1 Magnetic resonance image of the abdomen shows a large tumor mass (arrows) originating from the left kidney and extending into the retrohepatic portion of the inferior vena cava.

Citation: Texas Heart Institute Journal 41, 6; 10.14503/THIJ-13-3826

Fig. 2. Magnetic resonance image of the abdomen shows the intracaval part (arrow) of the tumor mass.Fig. 2. Magnetic resonance image of the abdomen shows the intracaval part (arrow) of the tumor mass.Fig. 2. Magnetic resonance image of the abdomen shows the intracaval part (arrow) of the tumor mass.
Fig. 2 Magnetic resonance image of the abdomen shows the intracaval part (arrow) of the tumor mass.

Citation: Texas Heart Institute Journal 41, 6; 10.14503/THIJ-13-3826

Fig. 3. Photomicrograph of the resected specimen shows the complex papillary formation of the tumor cells. Note that the fibrovascular papillary stalks are lined by a single layer of cuboidal/columnar cells characterized by low-grade nuclear cytology and eosinophilic cytoplasm lines (H & E, orig. ×200).Fig. 3. Photomicrograph of the resected specimen shows the complex papillary formation of the tumor cells. Note that the fibrovascular papillary stalks are lined by a single layer of cuboidal/columnar cells characterized by low-grade nuclear cytology and eosinophilic cytoplasm lines (H & E, orig. ×200).Fig. 3. Photomicrograph of the resected specimen shows the complex papillary formation of the tumor cells. Note that the fibrovascular papillary stalks are lined by a single layer of cuboidal/columnar cells characterized by low-grade nuclear cytology and eosinophilic cytoplasm lines (H & E, orig. ×200).
Fig. 3 Photomicrograph of the resected specimen shows the complex papillary formation of the tumor cells. Note that the fibrovascular papillary stalks are lined by a single layer of cuboidal/columnar cells characterized by low-grade nuclear cytology and eosinophilic cytoplasm lines (H & E, orig. ×200).

Citation: Texas Heart Institute Journal 41, 6; 10.14503/THIJ-13-3826

Fig. 4. Photomicrograph of the resected specimen shows tumor thrombus (TT), renal vein lumen (RL), and renal vein wall (RW) (H & E, orig. ×100).Fig. 4. Photomicrograph of the resected specimen shows tumor thrombus (TT), renal vein lumen (RL), and renal vein wall (RW) (H & E, orig. ×100).Fig. 4. Photomicrograph of the resected specimen shows tumor thrombus (TT), renal vein lumen (RL), and renal vein wall (RW) (H & E, orig. ×100).
Fig. 4 Photomicrograph of the resected specimen shows tumor thrombus (TT), renal vein lumen (RL), and renal vein wall (RW) (H & E, orig. ×100).

Citation: Texas Heart Institute Journal 41, 6; 10.14503/THIJ-13-3826

Comment

Renal cell carcinoma is a common urologic tumor, comprising 1% to 3% of all visceral cancers and 85% to 90% of all malignant kidney tumors. The extension of tumor thrombus into the IVC in renal cell carcinoma is a relatively uncommon event, which occurs in 4% to 25% of all cases.1 In approximately 2% to 10% of these patients, tumor thrombus extends into the right atrium.1–3 Improvements in imaging techniques, the introduction of dynamic monitoring by means of transesophageal echocardiography, and the adoption of bypass techniques such as cardiopulmonary bypass and hypothermic circulatory arrest (HCA) have all improved the safety and completeness of resecting renal cell carcinoma that involves the inferior vena cava.4

In our patient, the procedure was successfully achieved without cardiopulmonary bypass or HCA, even though the retrohepatic portion of the IVC was involved. This achievement can be attributed to the adequacy of exposure of the IVC provided by a Chevron incision and to the technique of “milking down” the IVC to displace the mass more caudally, thereby creating room to cross-clamp the IVC below the level of the hepatic veins. Cross-clamping the IVC did not result in hemodynamic instability, because the obstruction of the IVC by the tumor had been gradual enough to enable the development of collateral vessels.

This report highlights the importance of adequate exposure in such complex procedures and of taking steps to avoid tumor dissemination during surgery.

References

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Copyright: © 2014 by the Texas Heart® Institute, Houston
Fig. 1
Fig. 1

Magnetic resonance image of the abdomen shows a large tumor mass (arrows) originating from the left kidney and extending into the retrohepatic portion of the inferior vena cava.

Fig. 2
Fig. 2

Magnetic resonance image of the abdomen shows the intracaval part (arrow) of the tumor mass.

Fig. 3
Fig. 3

Photomicrograph of the resected specimen shows the complex papillary formation of the tumor cells. Note that the fibrovascular papillary stalks are lined by a single layer of cuboidal/columnar cells characterized by low-grade nuclear cytology and eosinophilic cytoplasm lines (H & E, orig. ×200).

Fig. 4
Fig. 4

Photomicrograph of the resected specimen shows tumor thrombus (TT), renal vein lumen (RL), and renal vein wall (RW) (H & E, orig. ×100).

Contributor Notes

Section Editor: Raymond F. Stainback, MD, Department of Adult Cardiology, Texas Heart Institute, 6624 Fannin St., Suite 2480, Houston, TX 77030

From: Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery (Drs. Aftab, Al-Najjar, Coselli, and de la Cruz), Michael E. DeBakey Department of Surgery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030; Department of Cardiovascular Surgery (Drs. Aftab, Al-Najjar, Coselli, de la Cruz, and El-Sayed Ahmed), Texas Heart Institute, Houston, Texas 77030; Scott Department of Urology (Dr. Lerner), Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030; and Department of Surgery (Dr. El-Sayed Ahmed), Zagazig University School of Medicine, 44519 Zagazig, Egypt

Dr. Al-Najjar is now at The Heart and Vascular Institute, Pikeville Medical Center, Pikeville, Kentucky. Dr. El-Sayed Ahmed is now at the Children's National Medical Center, Washington, DC.

Address for reprints: Magdy M. El-Sayed Ahmed, MD, MSc, Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, WW3 Suite 400, Children's National Medical Center, 111 Michigan Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20010, E-mail: elgoharymagdy@yahoo.com