[Leiomyosarcoma of the inferior vena cava]

Leiomyosarcoma of the inferior vena cava is a rare tumor of mesenchymal origin most commonly found in women. Clinical signs are non-specific. Imagery with ultrasound, CT, or MRI may strongly suggest the diagnosis, but it can only be confirmed by histologic examination of tissue obtained pre or intra-operatively. The tumor is slow growing but nonetheless carries a bad prognosis; it may grow to a large size before directly invading adjacent structures. Systemic spread is a late occurrence. Radical surgical resection is the only treatment which offers any hope for prolonged survival. Standard vascular surgical techniques are usually sufficient. Progress in the techniques of hepatectomy and liver transplantation have allowed the experienced surgeon to undertake the removal of retrohepatic lesions once considered unresectable. High-lying lesions adjacent to the hepatic veins or with thrombus extending into the proximal vena cava may require extracorporeal circulation with or without profound hypothermic circulatory arrest. The efficacy of chemotherapy, whether pre-operative for inaccessible tumors or post-operative for incompletely resected or recurrent tumor, is poorly defined and very limited.