Leiomyosarcoma of the inferior vena cava. Resection and reconstruction of the renal vein using the gonadal vein

Leiomyosarcoma of the inferior vena cava: Survival rate following radical resection

Leiomyosarcoma (LMS) of inferior vena cava (IVC) is a rare neoplasm affecting approximately 1/100,000 people. The prognosis is poor and potential curative intent occurs through challenging operations, such as vena cava resection, occasionally multivisceral when required, and vascular reconstruction. There are few retrospective series regarding this retroperitoneal neoplasm, and the aim of the present study was to discuss the experience at the São Paulo Cancer Institute and Clinics Hospital of University of São Paulo Medical School, São Paulo, Brazil. The current study is a retrospective review of 7 patients treated in the two tertiary hospitals between 2005 and 2013. Oncological and operative aspects were discussed, primarily regarding surgical aspects highlighting en bloc resection, vascular reconstruction, and the overall survival and recurrence rates. All the patients were treated with radical intent, 4 of whom underwent multivisceral resection, with the kidney being the most resected organ. The location of the IVC tumor was described using Kulaylat's description and the median tumor size was 10 cm. Vascular reconstruction was necessary in 4 patients. The overall survival rate at 3 and 5 years was 100, and 25%, respectively. The disease-free survival rate at 3 and 5 years was 57 and 20%, respectively. In conclusion, IVC LMS is a rare and severe retroperitoneal neoplasm, with multivisceral resections remaining a surgical challenge. The treatment requires numerous experienced surgeons and the impact of microscopic free margins remains unclear. Vascular reconstruction depends on several aspects regarding primarily the topography of the tumor.

Inferior vena cava reconstruction for leiomyosarcoma of Zone I-III requiring complete hepatectomy and bilateral nephrectomy with autotransplantation

The inferior vena cava (IVC) is the most common site of leiomyosarcomas arising from a vascular origin. Leiomyosarcomas of the IVC are categorized by anatomical location. Zone I refers to the infrarenal portion of the IVC, Zone II from the hepatic veins to the renal veins, and Zone III from the right atrium to the hepatic veins. This is a rare presentation of a Zone I-III leiomyosarcoma. Fifty-two-years-old female with a medical history significant only for HTN was admitted to the hospital with bilateral lower extremity edema and dyspnea. Two-dimensional echo demonstrated a right atrial thrombus, extending into the IVC. On subsequent CT and MRI, a 15 cm mass was noted that began in the right atrium and extended into the IVC, with continuation below the renal veins to above the level of the confluence of the common iliac veins. The patient underwent a complete resection of the mass, replacement of the IVC with Dacron graft, total hepatectomy and bilateral nephrectomy, with liver and kidney autotransplantation. Pathology was consistent with a high grade spindle cell sarcoma of vena cava origin. Patient was readmitted approximately 4 weeks postoperatively to begin adjuvant chemotherapy. This case represents a zone I-III IVC leiomyosarcoma treated with surgical R0 resection. This included a hepatectomy, bilateral nephrectomy, and hepatic and left renal autotransplantation. These complex tumors should be treated with surgical resection, and require a multidisciplinary approach.

Fainting as an unusual presentation of a large inferior vena cava leiomyosarcoma

OBJECTIVES

Primary tumors of the inferior vena cava are rare, with leiomyosarcoma representing the vast majority.

METHOD

A 60-year-old man was admitted in emergency for fainting and mild anemia. A whole-body computed tomography revealed a retroperitoneal mass of approximately 8 cm in diameter, invading the lumen of the inferior vena cava, extending to the renal vein confluence. An en bloc resection of the solid mass was performed. Macroscopically the tumor did not seem to insist on the resection margin.

RESULTS

Histopathological examination confirmed the diagnosis of leiomyosarcoma of the inferior vena cava. Postoperative recovery was uneventful and the patient was discharged after eight days, starting adjuvant chemotherapy. During the follow-up, the patient did not show other fainting episode, and at 24 months he is disease free.

CONCLUSIONS

Unusually, fainting could even be the isolated sign of a large leiomyosarcoma of the inferior vena cava, also when it affects its middle portion.

Leiomyosarcoma of the inferior vena cava

We describe 3 cases of leiomyosarcoma of the inferior vena cava (IVC) and review the literature describing clinicopathologic features of 211 cases and the outcome. Of these, 74% of the cases affected women with median age of 52 years. The most common symptoms were abdominal pain or mass (57%), Budd-Chiari syndrome (17%), and deep vein thrombosis (4%). The most frequent site of tumor origin is the middle segment of the IVC (33%). Tumor size ranged from 2 to 38 cm (mean, 12 cm). Of the tumors with an assigned grade, 46% were high grade, 17% were intermediate grade, and 36% were low grade. Of all patients, 47% underwent complete resection, 24% had complete resection with preoperative or postoperative chemotherapy and/or radiation, and 5% had palliative surgery. Tumor recurrence occurred in 40% of the patients (11% had local recurrence and 29% had metastasis). Perioperative mortality occurred in 4% of the cases. Of those patients who died, 42% died of the disease, 2% died of other causes, 26% were alive and free of the disease, 14% were alive with recurrent disease, and 11% were lost to follow-up. Tumors involving level 2 of the IVC have the best prognosis and tumors of level 1 have the worse prognosis. Although there is no standardized criteria for the grading of extrauterine leiomyosarcoma, we propose to grade based on mitotic activity as follows: high grade, 10 or more mitoses per 10 high-power field (HPF); intermediate grade, 5 to 9 mitoses per 10 HPF; and low grade, 1 to 4 mitoses per 10 HPF.