[Unusual metastatic spread after converted laparoscopic radical nephrectomy: natural history of the tumour or role of laparoscopy?].

Retroperitoneal or transperitoneal laparoscopic radical nephrectomy is currently proposed by an increasing number of urologists as an alternative to conventional open surgery to treat renal tumours. The authors report a case of metastasis to unusual sites (sigmoid colon, small intestine, root of the nose) after converted retroperitoneal laparoscopic radical nephrectomy for a T3 renal tumour, which raises the problem of the possible role of the laparoscopic approach in this unusual metastatic progression of the disease.