Nephron Sparing by Partial Median Nephrectomy for Treatment of Renal Hemangioma in a Dog

A 6-year-old neutered male Golden Retriever was admitted for evaluation of intermittent hematuria of 2 months' duration. A 3-cm heterogeneous mass causing distortion of the caudomedial aspect of the left kidney was detected via ultrasonography. Histologic examination of a renal tissue sample obtained by ultrasound-guided biopsy revealed a telangiectatic vascular plexus of unknown origin. Low glomerular filtration rate was identified by a modified exogenous creatinine clearance test. Excretory urography revealed a filling defect in the medial aspect of the caudal pole of the kidney, near the hilus. Because total renal function was low, a decision was made to perform nephron-sparing surgery involving resection of centrally located renal parenchymal and pelvic tissue by en bloc resection in the median plane, instead of radical nephrectomy. After surgery, the hematuria resolved and further decrease in renal function was not evident. Nephron-sparing surgery is a viable option for dogs with compromised renal function when there is concern that radical nephrectomy may precipitate uremia.