Renal Angiomyolipoma with Tumor Thrombus in the Inferior Vena Cava and Right Atrium Accompanied by Renal Cell Carcinoma: A Case Report

TL;DR

A rare case of kidney tumors with a tumor thrombus in the inferior vena cava and right atrium is reported, highlighting the importance of thorough diagnosis.

Contribution

This case report documents a rare coexistence of renal angiomyolipoma with tumor thrombus and renal cell carcinoma.

Findings

A 72-year-old woman had a solitary right renal mass with a tumor thrombus extending into the right atrium.

The tumors were confirmed as renal angiomyolipoma and renal cell carcinoma with a thrombus derived from the AML.

Robot-assisted surgery successfully removed the tumors and thrombus with no recurrence observed in one year.

Abstract

Background: Renal angiomyolipoma (AML) without local invasion is generally considered benign. However, it may extend to the renal sinus, even the renal vein, or the inferior vena cava (IVC). In patients with non-tuberous sclerosis complex, coexistence of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) and renal AML is uncommon. Case presentation: A 72-year-old woman was incidentally found to have a solitary right renal mass with an IVC thrombus extending into the right atrium during a routine health checkup. Robot-assisted laparoscopic radical nephrectomy and thrombectomy were successfully performed through adequate preoperative examination and preparation. Two tumor lesions were found and pathologically confirmed as renal AML and RCC, and the tumor thrombus was derived from the renal AML. During the one-year follow-up period, no signs of recurrence or metastatic disease were observed. Conclusions: Renal AML with a tumor thrombus in the IVC and right atrium accompanied by RCC may occur, although rarely. In clinical practice, if preoperative manifestations differ from those of common diseases, rare diseases must be considered to avoid missed diagnoses. In addition, adequate examination and multidisciplinary discussions before making a diagnosis are necessary. For a level 4 tumor thrombus with no infringement of the venous wall, adoption of robot-assisted minimally invasive surgery, without extracorporeal circulation technology, is feasible.

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