Resection of recurrent inferior vena cava tumor after radical nephrectomy for renal cell carcinoma

Management of recurrent tumor in the inferior vena cava (IVC) after radical nephrectomy is surgically challenging. We report 3 cases of recurrent renal cell carcinoma within the IVC managed by three different surgical techniques. One patient was treated with tumor thrombus removal and primary cavotomy closure. The second patient was treated with IVC ligation and removal without vascular reconstruction. A third patient was treated with IVC wall excision and placement of a bovine pericardium graft. Although technically difficult, repeat resection of IVC tumor recurrence after nephrectomy for renal cell carcinoma is an acceptable method of treatment.