[Intravenous leiomyomatosis of the uterus]

Abstract

We present a case of intravenous leiomyomatosis (IVL) associated leiomyoma of the uterus in a 57-year-old woman. It is clinically and morphologically suspected to be leiomyoma. IVL is a rare benign neoplasm that commonly grows into the pelvic veins and the inferior vena cava and, rarely, the right side of the heart. Histologically benign smooth-muscle tumor arises from either a uterine myoma or the wall of a uterine vessel with extension into veins. The primary treatment of IVL is hysterectomy and the excision of any extrauterine tumor, when technically feasible. Antiestrogenic therapy has been suggested as potentially useful in controlling of the unresectable tumor.