Renal cell carcinoma extending into inferior vena cava

Of 18 patients with renal cell carcinoma extending into the inferior vena cava 16 underwent radical nephrectomy with either venacavotomy and tumor thrombectomy or vena cava resection. Of 8 patients with no evidence of metastasis at the time of surgery 4 (50 per cent) are free of cancer for a mean duration of 93 months. Of 8 patients with known preoperative metastasis 7 died with cancer after a mean survival of 12 months. Operative mortality was 6.2 per cent and morbidity was minimal.