Case report: Pedunculated leiomyosarcoma of the inferior vena cava

Abstract

Leiomyosarcoma of the inferior vena cava is a rare mesenchymal tumor which originates from the smooth muscle cells of the vascular wall. Its radiographic presentation varies from that of intraluminal lesions resulting in obstruction of the inferior vena cava to those of giant retroperitoneal masses extending to the surrounding perivascular tissues although still with minimal intraluminal protrusion. In this report, we present one such case in which a 31-year-old woman had complaints of severe abdominal pain, abdominal distension and vomiting. Computed tomography demonstrated a giant well-defined right-sided retroperitoneal mass extending from the subhepatic region down to the pelvis. She was operated on and the tumor was discovered to be attached to the wall of the inferior vena cava with a peduncle, a leiomyosarcoma being proven histologically. CT features of this rare tumor are presented in this report.