Renal Cell Carcinoma Extending into the Retrohepatic Inferior Vena Cava

Abstract

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 crossclamped 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).