Use of magnetic resonance imaging to determine surgical approach to renal cell carcinoma with vena caval extension.

Extension of renal cell carcinoma into the vena cava is found in 4 to 10 percent of patients. One key to successful surgical management is defining the superior extent of the thrombus. Currently, this is accomplished by using inferior venacavography. The limitations of this imaging technique include difficulty in defining the superior extent of the thrombus and determining the presence of hepatic vein involvement. We report our experience using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in 9 patients to stage the thrombus and to determine the operative approach. We believe that MRI supplants other imaging techniques for staging tumor thrombi in renal cell carcinoma.

Ectopic ureter presenting as a psoas abscess.

Psoas abscesses are uncommon infections whose etiology may be primary or secondary. We report on a boy with ureteral ectopia presenting as a secondary psoas abscess. The diagnosis of a psoas abscess is protean and should be considered in all patients, particularly children, who present with acute thigh or hip pain and fever.

Congenital genitourinary hemangiomas in a patient with the Klippel-Trenaunay syndrome: management with the neodymium:YAG laser.

The Klippel-Trenaunay syndrome is an unusual congenital anomaly characterized by cutaneous hemangiomas, multiple varicosities, soft tissue hypertrophy and, rarely, gastrointestinal or genitourinary hemangiomas. The large bladder as well as multiple penile hemangiomas in our patient were treated successfully with the neodymium:YAG laser with minimal morbidity.