Robot‐assisted laparoscopic partial nephrectomy for horseshoe kidney: A case report

INTRODUCTION: Horseshoe kidney has unique anatomical features, such as a complex blood supply. We report a patient with renal cell carcinoma in a horseshoe kidney, who underwent tumor resection by robot‐assisted laparoscopic partial nephrectomy based on preoperative three‐dimensional computed tomography. CASE PRESENTATION: A 66‐year‐old man was referred to our hospital with a 2‐cm enhancing mid‐pole mass in the left moiety of a horseshoe kidney. The clinical diagnosis was renal cell carcinoma cT1aN0M0 (R.E.N.A.L. nephrometry score: 1 + 2 + 3 + 3 = 9p). Robot‐assisted laparoscopic partial nephrectomy was performed with selective clamping based on reconstructed three‐dimensional images. The warm ischemia time was 13 min. Pathologic examination confirmed a diagnosis of pT1a clear cell renal cell carcinoma with negative surgical margins. At 6 months postoperatively, computed tomography showed no local recurrence or metastasis and renal function was intact. CONCLUSION: Robot‐assisted laparoscopic partial nephrectomy with preoperative three‐dimensional computed tomography may have advantages for resection of tumors in patients with horseshoe kidney.