11 TUMOURS REMOVED FROM A SINGLE KIDNEY BY SURGEONS AT THE NATIONAL MEDICAL RESEARCH RADIOLOGICAL CENTRE

A year ago, a 70‑year‑old Muscovite had his right kidney removed after doctors discovered a malignant tumor in it. Now he faced a new complication: not one, but 11 pathological foci had appeared in his left kidney.

“I went to many different places”, – the patient told his doctor during a consultation at the N. Lopatkin Scientific Research Institute of Urology and Interventional Radiology — a branch of the National Medical Research Radiological Centre of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation. “Everyone offered the same treatment option: to remove the second kidney”.

This would have meant being tied to machine hemodialysis for life — regular blood purification using a special system.

After thoroughly checking all indicators of the patient’s health and kidney condition, carefully weighing all risks, and noting that the tumors were growing, specialists at the Research Institute of Urology decided to try to save the patient’s only remaining kidney by removing all 11 lesions.

To precisely determine the scope of the upcoming intervention, the Centre’s specialists performed an abdominal computed tomography (CT) scan with contrast enhancement for the patient. The iodine used as a contrast agent allows doctors to examine and assess abdominal and pelvic organs, vascular structure, and detect focal lesions — even the smallest ones — in detail. Only after this visual assessment of tumors or metastases do surgeons proceed with the operation itself.

“The challenge is to maximally preserve kidney function while removing these neoplasms,” explains the operating surgeon, Candidate of Medical Sciences Oleg Osipov. “This is a very rare situation — such a number of foci in a single remaining kidney. According to the examination results, there are atherosclerotic plaques in its vessels. During surgery, when a vessel is clamped, these plaques may break apart and block (thrombose) the renal artery — and then the kidney would die.

“To achieve our goal, we decided to perform the operation without interrupting the kidney’s blood flow. This approach requires highly skilled surgeons due to the high risk of intraoperative bleeding. That’s why such operations are performed in only a very limited number of medical centers. Our NMRRC is one of them”.

The operation was successful, and the blood vessels supplying the kidney immediately started working, turning it a triumphant pink colour.

“We will actively monitor our complex patient’s health condition going forward,” adds attending physician Magomed Arshiev. “There is a specific schedule of follow‑up examinations that we will carry out together with him. Of course, he will need a period of rehabilitation, including a special diet and limited physical activity. But we are confident that he will return to his normal life in the future”.