Related Experiment Videos
A pitfall in diagnosing a tumor thrombus by computed tomography
1Department of Urology, Kitasato University School of Medicine, Kanagawa, Japan.
Summary
A case of right renal cell carcinoma showed a false-positive tumor thrombus in the inferior vena cava. This was an artifact from non-opacified blood, highlighting the need to avoid unnecessary interventions.
Area of Science:
- Nephrology
- Radiology
- Oncology
Background:
- Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is a common kidney malignancy.
- Tumor thrombus in the inferior vena cava (IVC) is a serious complication of RCC.
- Accurate diagnosis of IVC tumor thrombus is critical for treatment planning.
Observation:
- A computed tomography (CT) scan in a patient with right RCC revealed an intraluminal filling defect in the IVC.
- This finding was initially suspected to be a tumor thrombus.
- Further analysis indicated the defect was likely an artifact.
Findings:
- The intraluminal filling defect in the IVC was determined to be a pseudo-thrombus.
- This artifact resulted from the inflow of non-opacified blood during contrast-enhanced CT.
- The actual tumor did not extend into the IVC.
Implications:
- Radiologists and clinicians must consider the possibility of IVC artifacts in CT imaging.
- Recognizing this artifact can prevent misdiagnosis of tumor thrombus.
- Avoiding unnecessary interventions avoids patient harm and treatment delays for renal cell carcinoma.