[Leiomyosarcoma of the inferior vena cava].
BACKGROUND
The inferior vena cava is an uncommon location for leiomyosarcoma, a malignant tumor which develops from the smooth muscle tissue of the media.


METHODS
A 76-year-old woman was hospitalized for swelling of the lower limbs. Ultrasonography, computed tomography of the abdomen and magnetic resonance imaging showed tumoral invasion of the inferior vena cava extending to the atrium. Histology examination of a tumoral fragment obtained by transjugular catheterism affirmed the diagnosis of leiomyosarcoma.


CONCLUSIONS
Prognosis of leiomyosarcoma of the inferior vena cava is very poor. No medical or surgical treatment has given satisfactory results. Two factors would explain the poor prognosis: the tumoral localization and the low degree of tumoral differentiation. Clinical presentation and imaging findings suggest the diagnosis which must be confirmed by pathology examination of a tumoral biopsy specimen.
Service de Médecine vasculaire, Centre Claude-Bernard de Recherche sur les Maladies vasculaires, Paris.
O
O
Lozinguez
J
J
Emmerich
P
P
Fornes
J N
JN
Fiessinger
D000368:Aged; D001706:Biopsy; D005260:Female; D006325:Heart Atria / Q000473:pathology; D006338:Heart Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007890:Leiomyosarcoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D011379:Prognosis; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014463:Ultrasonography; D019043:Vascular Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D014682:Vena Cava, Inferior / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*
Léiomyosarcome de la veine cave inférieure.