Transdiaphragmatic nephrectomy with synchronous pulmonary and anterior thoracic wall mass metastasectomy in a young male with metastatic renal cell carcinoma; A single-incision approach

Abstract

Renal cell carcinoma represents approximately 3% of all cancers, with the highest incidence occurring in the western world. Around 33% of the patients experience metastatic disease at diagnosis. Since the approval of the first targeted therapy, the treatment of metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) has positively changed, but the surgical treatment of the primary tumor, and metastases if possible, is sometimes crucial in selected patients controlling the burden of cancer sites with the intention to improve survival. We, herein, report on a case of a young male patient presented in the emergency room with gross hematuria which underwent transdiaphragmatic nephrectomy with synchronous pulmonary and anterior thoracic wall mass metastasectomy with a single thoracic incision due to mRCC. Achieving a full response in patients with mRCC is extremely rare only with medical treatment. The role of complete surgical metastasectomy is questioned, but there are several studies that support its efficacy in achieving metastases free status prolonged overall survival and better quality of life. The therapeutic treatment plan for these patients should be discussed within dedicated multidisciplinary cancer centers and focus on each patient individually and they should be offered a closed follow-up strategy.