Laparoscopic nephron-sparing surgery for horseshoe kidney complicated with renal hemangioma: a case report and literature review

In very rare cases, horseshoe kidney can present simultaneously with renal hemangioma. Nephron-sparing surgery (NSS) is a minimally invasive surgical procedure for horseshoe kidney with tumor, but it is difficult to operate and has not been reported. We report a 71-year-old female with imaging examination revealed an unexpected horseshoe kidney malformation and a cystic mass in the right kidney before her bladder cancer surgery. After one and a half years of follow-up, the mass was progressively enlarged, and was classified as Bosniak type III. After evaluating the anatomical structure around the lesion by 3D reconstruction computed tomography, she received cystoscopic right double J ureteral catheter placement combined with retroperitoneal laparoscopic partial nephrectomy of the right kidney. After a 3-month follow-up, no tumor recurrence was observed, with normal kidney function. Retroperitoneal laparoscopic NSS of horseshoe kidney with hemangioma is feasible and adequate preoperative 3D reconstruction imaging is the guarantee of safe and smooth operation.