Retroperitoneal laparoscopic partial nephrectomy for unilateral synchronous multifocal renal carcinoma with different pathological types: A case report

BACKGROUND: The majority of renal cell carcinomas are single lesions; unilateral synchronous multifocal renal carcinoma (USMRC) is rarely reported and poses a treatment challenge for urological oncologists. CASE SUMMARY: A 56-year-old man was hospitalized for pain and discomfort in the right kidney area for 6 d. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography demonstrated cT1a renal tumors at the lower pole of the right kidney and a cT1b renal tumor at the middle dorsal portion of the right kidney. The patient underwent retroperitoneal laparoscopic partial nephrectomy (RLPN). There were no complications peri-operatively. Histopathology revealed a low-grade, pathologic stage T1a (pT1a), clear cell renal cell carcinoma at the lower pole of the right kidney and a pT1b, chromophobe renal cell carcinoma at the middle dorsal portion of the right kidney. No tumor bed recurrence or metastasis was observed on imaging and his renal function remained stable during the 12-mo follow-up period. CONCLUSION: RLPN is a safe, effective, and feasible for the management of USMRC, which can obtain equivalent oncological results with optimal renal function preservation.