Clot Between a Rock and a Hard Place: Renal Cell Carcinoma with IVC Tumor Thrombus

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is the most common renal cancer and constitutes a significant burden of disease. Tumor thrombus is present in approximately 10% of cases at initial diagnosis and impacts the morbidity and mortality of the disease. The primary treatment for RCC involves resection of the tumor. The presence of tumor thrombus, therefore, is not only important for prognosis but also for operative planning. Operative approach, including vascular control and caval closure are important consideration when resecting RCC with inferior vena cava (IVC) tumor thrombus and varies based on the patient presentation, extent of the tumor, and the surgeon's experience. This article presents a patient with RCC with IVC thrombus who ultimately underwent surgical resection with general surgery, vascular surgery, and urology to showcase the multidisciplinary care, surgical considerations, and current management and treatment strategies for RCC with tumor thrombus.