[Preoperative diagnosis of kidney cancers with involvement of the vena cava]

85 patients with adenocarcinoma of the kidney were operated in 1982 and 1983. 9 patients showed a tumor thrombus extending into the renal vena and vena cava. Ultrasound examination of the retroperitoneal cava up to the liver veins was always able to diagnose the tumor thrombus and its cranial extension. If the end of the thrombus was visualised ultrasonographically below the diaphragma and confluence of the liver veins into the cava, no additional diagnostic procedure except intravenous urography was found to be necessary for planning operative treatment. Arteriography, cavography and computer scanning did not give additional information important for surgical intervention.