Late Survival and Long-Term Follow-Up After Radical Resection of Advanced Renal Cell Carcinoma With Associated Venous Tumor Thrombus

Background and objectives: This study evaluates the prognostic value of venous tumor thrombus (VTT) in patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC) undergoing radical resection and inferior vena cava (IVC) thrombectomy.

Methods: Retrospective review of patients with radical nephrectomy for RCC and associated VTT (2000-2024). Patients were dichotomized into Neves 0-II (infrahepatic) and Neves III-IV groups (suprahepatic) IVC involvement for univariate analysis.

Results: A total of 64 patients (34 Neves 0-II and 30 Neves III-IV) were analyzed. No significant differences in patient or cancer characteristics. Neves III-IV was associated with greater blood loss (> 2 L) (62.1% vs. 37.9%, p = 0.02), greater intensive care unit length of stay (LOS) (4.4 vs. 1.4 days, p = 0.02), and postoperative LOS (11.0 vs. 6.5 days, p = 0.005). Overall, 30-day mortality was only 1.6% with a mean follow-up of 56.1 months. Local recurrence was 7.8% and IVC patency 96.9%. One-year survival was 82.0%, 5-year survival was 58.4%, and 15-year survival was 42.5% without significant difference between Neves levels.

Conclusions: Radical nephrectomy with VTT thrombectomy and primary IVC repair is safe with high early survival and low local recurrence. Extent of IVC tumor thrombus extension is not a poor prognostic factor for early or late survival.