Leiomyoma and leiomyosarcoma of the vein wall

Leiomyoma and leiomyosarcoma of the vein wall

These are extremely rare tumours that are usually slow growing. They present with pain and a mass with signs of venous obstruction, e.g. oedema and distended veins. Duplex scanning, CT ( Figure 62.41 ) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) show a filling defect within the vein wall. Treatment is by resection with replacement by autogenous vein taken from another site. Rarely , a PTFE graft is required. When the tumour a ff ects the vena cava it must be resected and replaced with a prosthetic graft.