The assessment for diagnosis,treatment and prognosis of renal cell carcinoma extending into the renal vein or vena cava

Objective:The prognostic value of tumor extension into the renal vein or vena cava is still a controversial issue. The aim of this study is to report our experience with radical surgery in patients with renal cell carcinoma (RCC) extending into the renal vein or vena cava.Method:We evaluated 21 patients with RCC involving the renal vein or inferior vena cava. Radical nephrectomy with cavotomy and tumor thrombus removal was carried out in 20 cases with vena invasion.Result:MRI provides the best assessment of tumour involvement of the inferior vena cava. 20 cases of radical nephrectomy with cavotomy and tumor thrombus removal have survived for a long time.Conclusion:MRI can be used for diagnosis of renal cell cacinoma with vena tumor thrombi instead of venacavography which is invasive and has some adverse reactions.The degree of local extension of the tumor or the level of tumor thrombus did not tend to influence survival.