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Leiomyosarcoma of the thoracic aorta
T Yasuda1, S Yamamoto, S Yamaguchi
1Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Fukui Prefectural Hospital, Japan.
The Japanese Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery : Official Publication of the Japanese Association for Thoracic Surgery = Nihon Kyobu Geka Gakkai Zasshi
|November 11, 1999
Summary
A rare aortic leiomyosarcoma case is presented, highlighting a tumor filling the descending thoracic aorta. Despite successful surgery and graft replacement, the patient succumbed to complications.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Surgery
- Surgical Pathology
- Oncology
Background:
- Aortic aneurysms, particularly dissecting types, pose significant surgical challenges.
- Leiomyosarcoma is a rare malignant mesenchymal tumor that can arise in various locations, including the aorta.
Observation:
- A patient presenting with suspected type IIIa dissecting aortic aneurysm was found intraoperatively to have a tumor occluding the descending thoracic aorta.
- The tumor was soft, yellow, and necessitated replacement of the affected aortic segment with a Dacron graft.
Findings:
- Microscopic examination revealed large, atypical spindle cells with high mitotic activity, characteristic of leiomyosarcoma.
- Immunohistochemical studies confirmed the diagnosis of leiomyosarcoma.
Implications:
- This case underscores the importance of considering rare tumors in the differential diagnosis of aortic pathologies.
- While surgical intervention can be successful, the aggressive nature of aortic leiomyosarcoma poses a significant long-term risk, necessitating further research into effective treatments.