Tumor extending through inferior vena cava into the right atrium. A late recurrence of renal cell carcinoma.

Renal cell carcinoma is a tumor with a distinct feature; it can invade through renal vein to the inferior vena cava (IVC) and growths intravascularly extending sometimes into the right cardiac chambers. Previous reports of renal cancer with extension to the right atrium at the time of diagnosis have been published. We present the case of a patient with a right atrial mass arising from the IVC found by echocardiography, which was subsequently proved to be a recurrence of renal cell carcinoma 5 years after radical nephrectomy.