[Malignant venous tumors of the limbs. Apropos of 6 cases]

The authors report six personal cases of malignant venous tumours of the limbs, tumour pathology of the inferior vena cava being excluded from this study. Diagnostic features are described together with the various therapeutic possibilities. This discussion forms the basis of a review of the worldwide literature, but stresses two problems which determine the prognosis: that of diagnosis, which in the majority of cases is very late, and that of their prognosis, which remains somber because of their tendency to metastasize by blood-borne spread and that of locoregional recurrences. Finally, the authors suggest a three stage classification, taking into account not only macroscopic pathological features but also the results of the various special investigations which have led to the diagnosis. Prognostic correlation based upon the features involved in this classification is entirely satisfactory.