Calcification of the Renal Vein and Inferior Vena Cava on a Renal Tumor: An Exceptional Case

Noël Coulibaly,Evrard Yao,Koffi Djè,Tawakaltu Bolasade Adebayo,Fatoumata Ouattara-Cissé,Servais Sai,Lamine Bamba

doi:10.4236/oju.2021.1111040

Abstract

Background: A thrombus of the inferior vena cava and renal vein makes the management of renal cancer more difficult. Aim: The aim is to highlight and discuss the management of a case of renal cancer with an unusual thrombus in our context. Case Presentation: We report the case of a 49-year-old female with left kidney cancer, complicated by a calcified thrombus of the renal vein and inferior vena cava. A calcification of renal vein and vena cava was discovered during surgery, even though the diagnosis prior to surgery was a renal tumor with partial thrombus of the IVC. We performed a thrombectomy and left nephrectomy. The post-operative course was marked by the death of the patient a month later. Conclusion: Renal vein and inferior vena cava (IVC) calcifications are uncommon. Preoperative diagnosis is difficult but guided by medical imaging. Renal cancer is one of the causes. A thrombus or calcification of the vena cava worsens the prognosis of cancer.

Highlights

A thrombus of the inferior vena cava and renal vein makes the management of renal cancer more difficult
Case Presentation: We report the case of a 49-year-old female with left kidney cancer, complicated by a calcified thrombus of the renal vein and inferior vena cava
A calcification of renal vein and vena cava was discovered during surgery, even though the diagnosis prior to surgery was a renal tumor with partial thrombus of the inferior vena cava (IVC)

Summary

Introduction

Due to the anatomic position of the kidney, renal cancer has a long latency, and the discovery is done luckily during investigations for another reason. A thrombus of the IVC during the course of renal cancer is infrequent (2 - 10%). The occurrence of calcification of the inferior vena cava (IVC) with a kidney tumor is more difficult to find [1] [2]. The aim of this report was to emphasize the morbidity and mortality and difficult management of such cases in the underequipped area. Informed consent was obtained from the family to report this case

Case Report

Findings

Discussion