[Intravenous leiomyomatosis of the uterus with extension into the heart]

Abstract

A case was reported concerning a successful removal of a leiomyoma with extension into the right atrium through the right ovarian vein and the inferior vena cava. The patient was a 72 year-old woman who had suddenly suffered dyspnea and palpitation. She was hospitalized, and a mass in the right atrium and the inferior vena cava was discovered using echocardiography and magnetic resonance imaging. A myxoma in the right atrium with a thrombus in the inferior vena cava was diagnosed preoperatively. The operation was performed in July 1987 by means of cardio-pulmonary bypass. During atriotomy of the right atrium, a large sausage-shaped mass of milky-pinkish color was found. Though the root of the mass was centered beyond the periphery of the inferior vena cava, most of it was removed through the right atrium. Immediately after extirpation of the tumor, hypotension and abdominal distention occurred in the patient, and emergency laparotomy was carried out. Retroperitoneal bleeding from the right ovarian vein occurred and the similar tumors were observed in the right ovarian vein. Intravenous leiomyomatosis of the uterus with extension into the heart is very rare, this being only the seventeenth case reported in literature. To the best of our knowledge, this was also the oldest patient on record. The good surgical method for this tumor seems to be total removal using cardio-pulmonary bypass and laparotomy at the same time.