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Updated: Aug 8, 2026
Comprehensive Endovascular and Open Surgical Management of Cerebral Arteriovenous Malformations
Published on: October 20, 2017
Cavectomy for the treatment of Wilms tumor with vascular extension
Rodrigo Chaves Ribeiro1, Sergio Tomaz Schettini, Simone de Campos Vieira Abib
1Department of Pediatric Surgery, Pediatric Oncology Institute, Federal University of São Paulo, Av. Piassanguaba 2933 ap. 12, São Paulo, 04060-004 Brazil. rodrigocribeiro@uol.com.br
Purpose:
Vascular extension to the vena cava occurs in 4% of Wilms tumor cases and can reach the right atrium in up to 1%. When this happens the thrombus is usually not adherent to the vessel wall, and there is blood flow around it. Preoperative chemotherapy can cause thrombus regression and even resolution. If the thrombus persists after chemotherapy, surgery will be a challenge. On the other hand, if the thrombus invades the vessel wall, its removal may not be feasible. In this situation cavectomy is a good surgical strategy because it provides complete resection. The prerequisite for cavectomy is the absence of blood flow in the vena cava on preoperative Doppler ultrasonography. We report 3 cases of Wilms tumor with vena caval invasion in which cavectomy was performed, and discuss the principles, indications and operative technique.
Materials And Methods:
A total of 171 patients with Wilms tumor were treated at our institution between 1984 and 2004. Of these patients 6 with intravascular extension of thrombus within the right atrium were treated with extracorporeal circulation, cardiac arrest and profound hypothermia, and 3 were treated with cavectomy.
Results:
There were no instances of surgical complications or postoperative renal failure in our patients who underwent cavectomy. All remain well and free of disease.
Conclusions:
Cavectomy is a safe procedure for treating pediatric patients with Wilms tumor when there is extension and invasion of the vena cava wall without blood flow.
