What are the treatment options for tumors that invade the renal vein or vena cava?
When tumor invades into the renal vein or vena cava, open surgery is recommended to remove the affected kidney and to extract the tumor from the veins. It is important that you seek a urologist who has experience with this type of surgery. This is a major operation that requires isolation and clamping of the inferior vena cava, the largest vein in the body. After the blood flow is blocked the vein is opened and the tumor thrombus is extracted. The vein is then sutured closed. Sometimes embolization is performed before tumor removal. Embolization may also be considered in patients who cannot tolerate surgery.
