A complete surgical resection is the only proven therapeutic modality that prolongs the survival in patients with leiomyosarcoma of the inferior vena cava (IVC). Reconstruction of the IVC is not always necessary but is often required to facilitate venous drainage of the kidney for the tumors at the pararenal area of the IVC. Controversy exists in postoperative adjuvant therapy. Recently, we experienced four cases of pararenal leiomyosarcoma of the IVC, of which treatment consisted of a complete resection of the tumor, ringed polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) graft interposition, and bilateral renal vein reconstructions in all patients. Postoperative radiation therapy was instituted in 3 of 4 patients. One patient who did not receive the postoperative radiation therapy was treated with adjuvant chemotherapy. The kidneys were preserved in all patients and no deep vein thrombosis (DVT) or venous insufficiency of the lower extremity veins developed. Distant metastasis to the lung was noted in one patient at 18 months after surgery, who was not received the postoperative radiation therapy but chemotherapy. In conclusion, a complete resection of the tumor, IVC reconstruction, and bilateral renal vein reconstruction followed by adjuvant radiation therapy is recommended for the treatment of pararenal leiomyosarcoma of the IVC.
Adult ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Female ; Human ; Leiomyosarcoma/radiography/*radiotherapy/*surgery ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local/radiography/radiotherapy/surgery ; Retroperitoneal Neoplasms/radiography/radiotherapy/surgery ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome ; Vascular Neoplasms/radiography/*radiotherapy/*surgery ; *Vena Cava, Inferior

A 60-year-old female presented with abdominal pain and tenderness of five-day duration. Contrast enhanced CT showed a mass of 9 x 6 x 5.5 cm in size with almost complete obliteration of the inferior vena cava and massive extension to the extravascular space. CT-guided biopsy demonstrated a low-grade leiomyosarcoma. The patient underwent 125Iodine seeds implantation in two sessions, and another balloon cavoplasty. Abdominal pain and tenderness gradually improved and the patient continues to remain as disease free state for three years after the procedures.
Brachytherapy/*methods ; Contrast Media/diagnostic use ; Female ; Humans ; Iodine Radioisotopes/therapeutic use ; Leiomyosarcoma/radiography/*radiotherapy ; Middle Aged ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Vascular Neoplasms/radiography/*radiotherapy ; *Vena Cava, Inferior

Primary leiomyosarcoma of lung is extremely rare and often diagnosed as a mass on routine chest radiography. Although advances have been made in treatment protocols, leiomyosarcoma remains one of the more difficult soft tissue sarcomas to treat. Surgical resection is usually curative for small and well-differentiated sarcomas. For poorly differentiated and non-resectable tumors, chemotherapy and radiation therapy are used as neoadejuvant or palliative treatment options. Generally, leiomyosarcomas are known to be resistant to radiation therapy alone. The authors experienced a 68-year-old woman who was diagnosed leiomyosarcoma by routine chest radiography. Although disease progression was observed despite of chemotherapy, radiation therapy reduced the size of tumor. This paper describes the curative potential of radiation therapy for primary pulmonary leiomyosarcomas through a case report and literature review.
Aged ; Clinical Protocols ; Disease Progression ; Drug Therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Leiomyosarcoma* ; Lung ; Palliative Care ; Radiography ; Radiotherapy ; Sarcoma ; Thorax