Intravenous leiomyomatosis with cardiac extension: Tumor thrombectomy through an abdominal approach

Intravenous leiomyomatosis is an uncommon vascular tumor that may be seen w ith potentially life-threatening symptoms resulting from intracardiac exten sion. This tumor is frequently misdiagnosed and treated without appropriate preoperative imaging and planning, which at times leads to inadequate trea tment and incomplete resections. The appropriate therapy is complete excisi on of the tumor. We describe a patient who was treated with a new approach involving a single-stage operation without the need for median sternotomy, cardiopulmonary bypass graft, or hypothermic arrest by resection of the tum or from the point of attachment in the abdominal portion of the inferior ve na cava.