Doctor Le Phuc Lien, Head of the Female Urology Unit at the Center for Urology, Nephrology, and Andrology, Tam Anh General Hospital TP HCM, stated that the patient had no prior medical history. A routine health check-up, including a CT scan, detected a tumor approximately 5 cm in size located at the mid and upper poles of the kidney.

Typically, for kidney tumor surgery, doctors prefer a posterior approach to easily access blood vessels. However, Lan's tumor showed signs of adhesion to the liver and posterior abdominal wall. The surgical team opted for a laparoscopic abdominal approach to gain a comprehensive view and manage these adhesions.

After making 4 small incisions on the patient's abdomen, the team inserted a laparoscopic camera system for observation. They noted that the tumor remained entirely within the kidney, without invading the liver or abdominal wall. The team carefully dissected the tumor tissue, which was located close to the abdominal vena cava and renal artery branches, without rupturing major blood vessels, thus preventing massive bleeding. The tissue sample was then sent for frozen biopsy at temperatures ranging from -20 to -50 degrees C.

After 40 minutes, results confirmed a malignant tumor, stage T1. Therefore, the team clamped and ligated the blood vessels supplying the kidney and removed the entire right kidney containing the tumor to eradicate the cancer.

Doctor Lien (center) and the surgical team perform laparoscopic right kidney removal for the patient. *Photo: Tam Anh General Hospital*

Thanks to the minimally invasive procedure, Lan recovered well after surgery. She was able to walk lightly after three days, eat normally, experienced minimal incision pain, and was discharged. According to Doctor Lien, after the removal of one kidney, the patient's prognosis remains very positive, with a chance of complete recovery due to the early stage of cancer. Patients can maintain a normal life and their life expectancy is not affected with proper care. She does not require further treatment after surgery but needs regular follow-up appointments to monitor the function of the remaining kidney.

Globocan 2022 recorded over 2,200 kidney cancer cases annually in Vietnam, ranking 17th among common cancer types. Doctor Lien stated that kidney cancer is more prevalent in men than women, commonly occurring in those aged 55-74, and is not frequently seen in individuals under 45.

Kidney cancer often lacks a clear cause and typically shows no symptoms in its early stages. Doctor Lien advised that even young individuals with healthy lifestyles should not be complacent; they should undergo regular health check-ups and annual abdominal ultrasounds to detect abnormalities and intervene early.

Bao Anh

*Patient's name has been changed*