Transitional Cell Carcinoma of the Renal Pelvis with Extension into the Inferior Vena Cava: A Report of Two Cases

Abstract

Of all primary malignant renal tumors, 10% to 15% originate from the renal pelvis, and 90% to 92% of these tumors are transitional cell carcinomas. Nonetheless, renal pelvis transitional cell carcinoma extending into the inferior vena cava is very rare. We report one confirmed case and one highly suspicious case of renal pelvis transitional cell carcinoma with a tumor thrombus in the inferior vena cava. Both of our patients died within 6 months of initial diagnosis, indicating the poor prognosis and advanced stage of transitional cell carcinoma with an inferior vena cava thrombus. Transitional cell carcinoma should be considered in patients with obstruction of the renal vein and the inferior vena cava.

Centrally Infiltrating Renal Masses on CT: Differentiating Intrarenal Transitional Cell Carcinoma From Centrally Located Renal Cell Carcinoma

“…Renal vein invasion is a feature much more suggestive of centrally located RCC, although rarely TCC can invade the renal vein or even the inferior vena cava [22,24,25]. Any calcified renal lesion regardless of the pattern of calcification is more likely to be a centrally located RCC, but calcification can also occasionally occur with TCC [24].…”

Renal vein thrombosis in transitional cell carcinoma

“…1 In TCC, tumour extension to the IVC is rare, having been reported in less than 20 cases. 2,3 TCC of the kidney associated with bland thrombus in the renal vein extending to the IVC as in our patient has not been reported in the English language literature.…”

“…Renal cell carcinoma tends to spread intravascularly with tumour thrombus within the renal vein and IVC occurring in 21–35% and 4–10% of instances, respectively 1 . In TCC, tumour extension to the IVC is rare, having been reported in less than 20 cases 2,3 . TCC of the kidney associated with bland thrombus in the renal vein extending to the IVC as in our patient has not been reported in the English language literature.…”

Renal cell carcinoma with a pelvicalyceal system tumor thrombus: a case report

“…In such cases, it is very important to make a correct preoperative diagnosis of the tumor type because the operative methods of TCC and RCC are different. Nephroureterectomy is suggested for treatment of TCC while nephrectomy for RCC [13]. Based on preoperative examinations including imaging procedures, we had di culty to differentiate it from renal pelvis transitional cell carcinoma.…”