Organ-Preserving Surgical Treatment of a Horseshoe Kidney Occupied by a Large Renal Cell Carcinoma with Extensive Venous Invasion: A Case Report

Abstract

The horseshoe kidney is one of the most common congenital disorders affecting the urogenital system. Following a fusion of the lower kidney poles, which in turn lead to the formation of an isthmus, this anatomical variation is accompanied by other characteristic properties like an incomplete ascension, ventral rotation of the pelvices as well as atypical vascular supply. Even though renal carcinoids and Wilms tumors are more common in horseshoe kidneys, the incidence of renal cell carcinomas seems to be unaffected. Here we report the case of a locally advanced renal cell carcinoma with extensive venous invasion occurring in a horseshoe kidney and its complex surgical management. The whole primary tumor as well as a majority of venous tumor thrombi could be removed by a combination of 2/3 nephrectomy and cavotomy with thrombectomy. During 1 year of follow-up, the patient neither suffered from a tumor relapse, nor did he require renal replacement therapy. Thus, we conclude that even in cases of RCC where advanced disease is associated with complex anatomical situations, organ-preserving surgical treatment should be pursued to achieve excellent functional and oncological results.