Renal cell carcinoma in a horseshoe kidney treated with robot-assisted partial nephrectomy

How far has robot-assisted partial nephrectomy reached?

Nephron-sparing surgery is the standard treatment for small renal mass (SRM). Nephron-sparing surgery has evolved from an open to a minimally invasive technique. Robot-assisted partial nephrectomy (RAPN) is the latest technique in this field and is reported to be safe and feasible, showing oncologically and functionally superior or compatible results compared with open and laparoscopic partial nephrectomy for SRM. This is not limited to only SRM but also applies to large and complex renal masses and other challenging situations. RAPN showed good oncological and functional outcomes for ≥clinical T2 renal tumors, complex renal masses (PADUA score ≥10, RENAL score ≥10), hilar renal tumors, and multiple renal tumors. In addition, the outcomes of RAPN in these challenging cases were not inferior to those in conventional cases. RAPN could also be applied to a number of challenging cases in which the open technique was considered first. RAPN showed good results in patients with a solitary kidney, horseshoe kidney, and in repeat surgeries. Furthermore, RAPN could be safely performed on obese, elderly, and pediatric patients. Finally, this review evaluates efficiency and utility of RAPN based on the results of challenging cases of renal masses and to project the future of RAPN.

Zero Ischemia Open Partial Nephrectomy in Crossed Fused Ectopic Kidney - A Rare but Real Challenge

Crossed fused renal ectopia (CFRE) is a rare congenital anomaly with both kidneys located on the same side of the retroperitoneal space. Due to complex anatomy, any renal tumours arising from this congenital anomaly will require careful pre-operative planning and intra-operating management to ensure oncological clearance while maximizing renal function. In this clinical case, a 57-year-old lady was referred to our center with a left to right CFRE and a 10cmx8cmx8cm mass arising from the interpolar region of left ectopic kidney on a background of multiple medical co-morbidities including stage 3a chronic kidney disease (CKD). Careful pre-operative planning and optimization was done, including 3D reconstruction of CT images, and the decision was made to perform a zero ischemia open partial nephrectomy to give her kidneys the best fighting chance. She recovered well postoperatively with only a mild increase in creatinine and histopathology revealing a renal cell carcinoma. The case emphasizes the need for adequate pre-operative planning with the use of upcoming imaging modalities like 3D reconstruction for optimum planning to ensure the best postoperative outcomes.

Intraoperative indocyanine green fluorescence navigation in a robot-assisted partial nephrectomy for a large renal cell carcinoma in a horseshoe kidney

A man in his 60s was referred to the urology department with an incidental finding of large 75 mm mass within a horseshoe kidney. CT imaging highlighted the well-known aberrant arterial anatomy seen in horseshoe kidney which often causes significant surgical challenges.

After careful preoperative planning, the mass was resected successfully during a robot-assisted partial nephrectomy. Intraoperatively, indocyanine green fluorescence navigation helped to confirm arteries supplying area of resection were appropriately clamped, allowing for safe resection of the mass. Histology revealed a chromophobe renal cell carcinoma with clear margins. The patient was discharged on day 4 postoperatively and continues to be cancer free on routine surveillance imaging.

Robot-assisted partial nephrectomy via retroperitoneal approach in a patient with horseshoe kidney

INTRODUCTION

Horseshoe kidney is a renal fusion anomaly often associated with ectopia, malformation, and vascular changes. Robot-assisted partial nephrectomy is selected for patients with T1a renal cell carcinoma; however, there are few reports of renal cell carcinoma in horseshoe kidney. We present a case of robot-assisted partial nephrectomy via a retroperitoneal approach in a patient with horseshoe kidney with a brief literature review.

CASE PRESENTATION

An 84-year-old woman presented with a 2-cm mass in horseshoe kidney. She underwent robot-assisted laparoscopic partial nephrectomy via a retroperitoneal approach.

CONCLUSION

The use of robot-assisted laparoscopic partial nephrectomy in patients with horseshoe kidney is very rare, and only four cases have been reported. Because of the unique anatomical structure, surgeons need to consider surgical strategy more carefully, considering tumor location, vascular anatomy, and past history of abdominal surgery.

Robotic nephroureterectomy in a horseshoe kidney for upper tract urothelial carcinoma

Upper tract urothelial carcinoma represents a small proportion (5%-10%) of all urothelial cancers. Although there are several management options, in undifferentiated or high-risk cases, surgery in the form of nephroureterectomy is the gold standard. Horseshoe kidney is the most common congenital renal fusion anomaly affecting 1 in 400-600 patients. We present the case of a smoker in her mid-50s with an incidental finding of a papillary lesion in the right renal pelvis of her horseshoe kidney on CT scan. She went on to have endoscopic assessment confirming no other foci of disease. She was definitively managed with a robotic nephroureterectomy.

Open transperitoneal partial nephrectomy in a horseshoe kidney

We report the case of a 50-year-old Tibetan man who presented to an outpatient urology clinic after abdominal ultrasound for poorly defined abdominal pain demonstrated horseshoe kidney (HK) with a right moiety ~3.7 cm mass further characterised using contrast-enhanced CT scan (CECT). This dedicated imaging confirmed HK with a heterogeneously enhancing right upper pole 3.1 cm×3.7 cm×2.7 cm mass. Due to suspicion for aberrant vasculature on CECT, renovascular angiography was performed, which revealed recruitment of a right paravertebral vessel alongside two right renal moiety arteries and multiple right renal moiety veins. Based on vascular complexity and the surgical exposure required for arterial clamping, open transperitoneal right partial nephrectomy was preferred to minimally invasive techniques. Postoperative course was complicated by ileus, which resolved with standard management. Pathologic analysis revealed complete resection of a 5.0 cm Fuhrman grade II clear cell renal cell carcinoma.