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IntroductionMany cancers are associated with inferior vena cava (IVC) obstruction, but very few cancers have the ability to propagate within the lumen of the renal vein or the IVC. Renal cell carcinoma is the most common of these cancers. Renal cancer with IVC extension has a high rate of recurrence and a low five year survival rate.Case presentationA 62-year-old Caucasian woman previously in good health developed the sudden onset of severe reflux symptoms and right-sided abdominal pain that radiated around the right flank. A subsequent ultrasound and CT scan revealed a right upper pole renal mass with invasion of the right adrenal gland, liver, left renal vein and IVC. This appeared to be consistent with stage III renal cancer with IVC extension. Metastatic nodules were believed to be present in the right pericardial region; the superficial anterior abdominal wall; the left perirenal, abdominal and pelvic regions; and the left adrenal gland. The pattern of these metastases, as well as the invasion of the liver by the tumor, was thought to be atypical of renal cancer. A needle biopsy of a superficial abdominal wall mass revealed a surprising finding: The malignant cells were diagnostic of large-cell, B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. The lymphoma responded dramatically to systemic chemotherapy, which avoided the need for nephrectomy.ConclusionLymphomas only rarely progress via intraluminal vascular extension. We have been able to identify only one other case report of renal lymphoma with renal vein and IVC extension. While renal cancer would have been treated with radical nephrectomy and tumor embolectomy, large-cell B-cell lymphomas are treated primarily with chemotherapy, and nephrectomy would have been detrimental. It is important to remember that, rarely, other types of cancer arise from the kidney which are not derived from the renal tubular epithelium. These may be suspected if an atypical pattern of metastases or unusual invasion of surrounding organs is present. A preoperative or intraoperative biopsy may be helpful in these cases.

Abstract:The mTOR (mammalian target of rapamycin) signaling pathway was discovered during studies of the immunosuppressive agent rapamycin. This pathway regulates cell growth, protein synthesis and angiogenesis in response to environmental factors. The mTOR complex-1 inhibitor temsirolimus was derived from rapamycin to have less immunosuppressive and improved solubility characteristics. The safety, tolerability and effi cacy of temsirolimus have been well established in clinical trials. Drug related toxicity included rash, mucositis, asthenia, nausea, hyperglycemia, hypophosphatemia, anemia, and hypertriglyceridemia. An active and well-tolerated single agent dose is 25 mg i.v. weekly. A large Phase III trial in poor-prognosis patients with metastatic renal cancer compared i.v weekly temsirolimus administration to subcutaneous interferon alpha (IFNα), or a combination of temsirolimus plus IFNα. This study established that median overall survival was improved to 10.9 months in the temsirolimus group compared to 7.3 months in IFNα-treated group (0.73 hazard ratio for death; 95% confi dence interval [CI], 0.58 to 0.92; P = 0.008). A modest objective response rate of 8.6%, 4.8%, and 8.1%, respectively was observed in the three groups, associated with a median time to treatment failure of 3.8 months for temsirolimus alone, 1.9 months for IFNα, and 2.5 months for the combination. These results led to approval of temsirolimus for the treatment of renal cancer in the United States. Temsirolimus is clearly indicated for fi rst-line therapy of Motzer "poor risk" renal cancer and aggressive non-clear cell renal cancer. Temsirolimus may be useful after failure of VEGF tyrosine kinase inhibitors. Clinical activity in other tumor types, such as endometrial cancer has been observed. Temsirolimus is therefore an important new agent for cancer treatment.

Background Literature addressing the risks associated with increasing body mass index (BMI) for patients undergoing free flap breast reconstruction is limited. Often, an arbitrary BMI cutoff (i.e., BMI of 30 kg/m2) is used to determine candidacy for a free flap without substantial backing evidence. This study utilized a national multi-institutional database to analyze outcomes of free flap breast reconstruction and stratified complications by BMI class. Methods Using the 2010 to 2020 National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database, patients who underwent free flap breast reconstruction were identified. Patients were divided into six cohorts based on the World Health Organization BMI classes. Cohorts were compared by basic demographics and complications. A multivariate regression model was created to control for age, diabetes, bilateral reconstruction, American Society of Anesthesiologists class, and operative time. Results Surgical complications increased with each BMI class, with the highest rates occurring in class I, II, and III obesity, respectively. In a multivariable regression model, the risk for any complication was significant for class II and III obesity (odds ratio [OR]: 1.23, p < 0.004; OR: 1.45, p < 0.001, respectively). Diabetes, bilateral reconstruction, and operative time were independently associated with an increased risk of any complication (OR: 1.44, 1.14, 1.14, respectively, p < 0.001). Conclusion This study suggests that the risks of postoperative complications following free flap breast reconstruction are highest for patients with a BMI greater than or equal to 35 kg/m2, having nearly 1.5 times higher likelihood of postoperative complications. Stratifying these risks by weight class can help guide preoperative counseling with patients and help physicians determine candidacy for free flap breast reconstruction.