Pulmonary tumor embolization as early manifestation in patients with renal cell carcinoma and tumor thrombus: Perioperative management and outcomes.

Although RCC with IVC tumor thrombus complicated by PTE may not be catastrophic in most cases, it appears to be associated with an increased risk of developing metastatic disease. In addition, as the PTEs appear to contain neoplastic cells, pulmonary artery embolectomy at the time of nephrectomy should be performed whenever possible.