[Renal neoplasm with vena cava involvement]

Renal cancer with vena cava tumour thrombus is relatively rare (4 to 10%). Because of the poor results obtained with any kind of alternative therapy (e.g. radiation, hormonal, chemotherapy and immunotherapy) operation with complete removal of the vena cava tumour thrombus continues to be the better method of treatment. The prognostic significance of the cephalic extent of an inferior vena caval tumor thrombus associated with renal cell carcinoma is controversial. Long-term survival after surgical treatment is possible in patients with localized renal cell carcinoma (survival 50% at five years). The authors report a case of vena caval extension of renal cell carcinoma in a 70-years-old man. The patient presented with a history of right lumbar pain and pedal edema. Magnetic Resonance demonstrated the presence and the level of tumoral thrombus. The patient was submitted to a radical nephrectomy and complete removal of tumor thrombus from vena caval.