Primary small cell carcinoma of the kidney with tumour thrombus extension into the inferior vena cava and pulmonary artery: a case report and review of the literature.

Renal small cell carcinoma is a rarely seen malignant neoplasm with high propensity for distant metastasis and aggressive behaviour showing combined characteristics of neuroendocrine and epithelial neoplasia in terms of immunohistochemistry and ultrastructure. To the best of our knowledge this is the first report of primary small cell carcinoma of the left kidney with tumour thrombus extending to the inferior vena cava and pulmonary artery to undergo left radical nephrectomy and tumour thrombectomy under extracorporeal circulation and deep hypothermic circulatory arrest. The patient was a 33-year old male. He was discharged from hospital 10 days following the procedures and remained alive at the time of writing, over 7 months after discharge. Light microscopy, immunohistochemistry and the survival outcome of this case are presented and these are discussed in the context of a review of similar cases in the current literature. This case demonstrated that, in the absence of distant metastases, renal small cell carcinoma with tumour thrombus does not contraindicate surgery.