The operative treatment of renal cell carcinoma with inferior vena cava tumor thrombus

Objective To evaluate the operative treatment of renal cell carcinoma(RCC) with inferior vena cava tumor thrombus.Methods From October 2004 to March 2006,5 patients(3 male,2 female) with inferior vena cava tumor thrombus underwent radical nephrectomy and thrombectomy.The median age was 49.8 years.Of the 5 patients,1 was renal vein thrombus,2 were infrahepatic thrombus,2 were hepatic thrombus.Results The operation were success in 4 of the 5 patients and 1 patients died because of lung embolism induced by tumor thrombus defluvium.The 4 patients had been followed up for 7～23 months after surgery.1 patient died of tumor recurrence and metastasis at the 17th month after surgery and the others survived without recur and distant metastasis.Conclusions The radical nephrectomy plus thrombectomy is the preferred approach for patients without metastasis.