Recurrence of Uterine Intravenous Leiomyomatosis with Intracardiac Extension: Diagnostic Considerations and Surgical Removal

Abstract

A 28-year-old woman (gravida 2, para 2) was admitted 20 months after a hysterectomy because of fibromyoma. The hysterectomy specimen had shown intravenous leiomyomatosis. The patient presented with unspecific abdominal symptoms, serologic signs of hepatic and renal failure and clinical right-sided heart failure. Progression despite treatment with a gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogue promoted transferral to the present centre. Abdominal ultrasonography, phlebography and transoesophageal echocardiography showed a left pelvic mass and a seemingly free-floating tumour extending from the left main iliac vein via the inferior caval vein to the right ventricle. During a combined cardiac and distal caval approach using extracorporeal circulation, a 45 cm massive leiomyoma was removed successfully. Seven weeks later the left pelvic tumour was removed radically together with left oophorectomy. At control 12 months later the patient was well and without any remaining symptoms.