LEIOMYOSARCOMA OF THE PELVIC VEIN

A 37-year-old patient presented with relapsing edema of the left leg l asting for 3 months. The radiological investigations indicated a throm botic occlusion of the pelvic veins. Surgery revealed a neoplastic gro wth within the common femoral vein. Histology corresponded to a leiomy osarcoma of the venous wall with intraluminal growth and no indication for penetration of the wall and invasion of the surrounding tissue. I n a second operation the tumor-bearing parts of the profound and super ficial femoral vein and the external iliac vein were removed. A postop erative infection with involvement of the superficial femoral artery n ecessitated resection of the artery and replacement by a bypass. Three months after the intervention the patient fares well. The swelling te ndency of the left leg is minimal. A local recurrence of the tumor cou ld not be detected so far. Chemotherapy was refused by the patient.