Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Dog with kidney cancer and vein clot treated by surgery and toceranib
By Murakami, Momoka et al.·Published in The Canadian veterinary journal = La revue veterinaire canadienne·2026·Isesaki Animal Medical Center, Japan·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Surgery and toceranib for renal cell carcinoma with caval thrombus in a dog.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A 14-year-old spayed female papillon was brought in for blood in her urine and a mass on her right kidney. Tests showed she had a tumor that extended into a major vein, which is a serious condition known as renal cell carcinoma with caval thrombus. The dog underwent surgery to remove the kidney and the thrombus, and although she had a brief drop in blood pressure during the procedure, she recovered well without major complications. After surgery, she started a medication called toceranib to help prevent the cancer from returning. Unfortunately, signs of lung cancer appeared nearly 18 months later, but she was still alive over two years after the surgery.
People also search for: dog blood in urine treatment · papillon kidney cancer surgery · toceranib for dog cancer
Abstract
A 14-year-old spayed female papillon dog was presented with hematuria and a right renal mass. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography revealed a tumor thrombus extending about 1.5 cm cranially from the right renal vein into the caudal vena cava (CVC), consistent with renal cell carcinoma and caval thrombus, with no signs of distant metastasis. The dog underwent open right-sided nephrectomy and CVC thrombectomy, using 2 tourniquets, with a total occlusion time of 12 min 13 s. Transient hypotension during surgery was successfully managed, and there were no major intra- or postoperative complications. Histopathology confirmed a highly malignant renal cell carcinoma with vascular invasion. Adjuvant toceranib therapy was initiated to address potential microscopic residual disease. Pulmonary metastasis was detected on Day 553 after surgery, and the dog remained alive on Day 722. This case demonstrates that renal cell carcinoma with caval thrombus in dogs can be surgically managed without severe complications. Moreover, adjuvant toceranib therapy can be used safely. Together, these findings offer valuable insights into the feasibility and safety of surgical strategies for CVC-invasive renal tumors in dogs. Key clinical message: Renal cell carcinoma with caval thrombus in dogs can be safely managed with surgery, highlighting the feasibility of aggressive surgical intervention for this rare condition.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41847491/