A rare case of a cardiac calcified thrombus originating from right atrium and inferior vena cava

Cardiac calcified thrombus is a rare non-neoplastic cardiac mass that can present like an intra-cardiac tumor. The finding of a calcified thrombus in the inferior vena cava is described in patients with permanent central venous line or in presence of recurrent pulmonary embolism. The aim of the study is to describe a rare case of cardiac calcified thrombus in patient without comorbidities. We report an extremely unusual case of a 73 year-old woman with a calcified thrombus between the inferior cava and the atrium who was admitted to hospital for an incidental evidence of a heart neoformation mimicking a myxoma at an echocardiogram exam, totally asymptomatic performed as a screening test after thyroidectomy. Surgical removal of cardiac mass is fundamental both to achieve the correct diagnosis and to avoid thromboembolic risks or inferior vena cava occlusion. In a patient without serious comorbidities, surgical excision can be performed without major risks.     

Renal angiomyolipoma extending into the right atrium

Renal angiomyolipomas (AMLs) are benign renal tumors that may possess the features of a malignant neoplasm, such as local and vascular invasion. We describe the diagnosis and management of a rare case of AML associated with tumor thrombus extending into the right atrium.     

Application of cardiopulmonary bypass for resection of renal cell carcinoma and adrenocortical carcinoma extending into the right atrium

AIM: The application of cardiopulmonary bypass to atrial involvement represents an important advance that has improved the safety and technical efficacy of a difficult surgical undertaking. Our experiences of the management of extended thrombi into the right atrium in patients with retroperitoneal malignancy using a cardiopulmonary bypass were discussed. METHODS: Data were reviewed for five patients (two men and three women; mean age, 60.4 years; range, 49-79 years) with retroperitoneal tumors displaying intracardiac tumor extension. Tumors originated in the right kidney in four patients, and in left adrenal gland in one patient. Cardiopulmonary bypass was used in all cases. RESULTS: Mean total blood loss was 6059 mL. Mean operative time was 14.7 h. No intra- or postoperative complications due to surgical technique were encountered, and no significant bleeding occurred during incision of the inferior vena cava or after removal of tumor thrombus. The follow-up period ranged from 3 to 20 months with a mean of 12.6 months. Of the five patients, three died of metastatic diseases, one died of liver dysfunction and one remains disease free as of 18 months postoperatively. CONCLUSIONS: Our experience indicates that this procedure can be safely used for atrial involvement. Although superior long-term survival cannot be shown yet, favorable early results and a lack of perioperative complications were identified.     

Successful resection of cecal hepatic metastasis extending into the right side of the heart under cardiopulmonary bypass

Resection is the best hope for the cure of colorectal metastasis to the liver. However, surgery is indicated for only a few patients, especially those who have major vascular involvement. We report a 55-year-old woman with a liver metastasis from the cecum that showed a tumor thrombus in the right side of the heart. She had undergone laparoscopic right hemicolectomy for cecal cancer 6 months before, and presented with a palpable mass in the epigastrium. Abdominal ultrasonography, computed tomography, hepatic angiogram, and echocardiography showed a huge mass on the left lobe of the liver, with a tumor thrombus which extended to the right ventricle through the left hepatic vein and inferior vena cava. Tumor thrombectomy, through a right atriotomy, was success-fully performed under cardiopulmonary bypass, followed by left hepatic lobectomy. The patient's postoperative course was uneventful. Received for publication on Oct. 5, 1998; accepted on Jan. 11, 1999     

Asymptomatic right atrial leiomyosarcoma with tricuspid valve obstruction in a young female patient

Primary cardiac leiomyosarcomas of the heart are rare tumors usually diagnosed post-mortem. Like other sarcomas located in the heart, it causes symptoms by obstruction or occlusion of cardiac cavities, local invasion, embolization or by systemic manifestations. We present an unusual case of a previously healthy young female patient who was accidentally diagnosed with a cardiac tumor of unknown origin during routine physical examination in May 1997. Until a few days prior to elective cardiac surgery for diagnostic purposes in June 1997, no clinical symptoms were present. To our surprise, a primary right atrial leiomyosarcoma was found which almost completely occluded the right atrium and destroyed the tricuspid valve. Despite the combination of surgical removal and adjuvant chemotherapy the patient died 3 weeks after the operation due to progressive tumor disease and development of congestive heart failure and lung embolism.     

Pulmonary artery embolization of intravenous leiomyomatosis extending into the right atrium

A 43-year-old woman was diagnosed with an intravenous leiomyomatosis at a previous hospital and transferred to our hospital to undergo surgical treatment. Emergency one-stage operation for coincidental removal of intra-abdominal, right atrial, and intravenous masses were planned. Upon arriving at the operating room, she suffered a sudden onset of severe dyspnea and showed hemodynamic instability. Intraoperative TEE showed pulmonary embolization of a right atrial mass. Removal of the pulmonary artery mass and the intra-abdominal mass, and the cardiopulmonary bypass were performed without any complications.     

Renal cell carcinoma extending into vena cava and right atrium

We report on a patient who underwent complete removal of a renal cell carcinoma extending into the vena cava and the right atrium. A review of the literature confirms the rarity of vena caval obstructive symptoms. Emphasis is on preoperative diagnosis, thoracoabdominal exposure, and team approach. Survival rates warrant aggressive surgical treatment in these patients.     

Thyroid carcinoma with extensive tumor thrombus in the atrium

To our knowledge, only a few cases of thyroid carcinoma with an extensive tumor thrombus in the atrium have been reported in literature. We describe a unique case of papillary carcinoma of the thyroid with extensive tumor thrombus in the atrium. A 74-year-old man consulted our hospital because of thyroid carcinoma with an extensive tumor thrombus in the atrium. Computed tomography (CT) revealed a 2-cm tumor with extensive continuous tumor thrombus in the left jugular vein, innominate vein, superior vena cava, and atrium. The tumor was resected to reduce the risk of sudden death from tumor embolism into the pulmonary arteries. Histologically, the diagnosis was papillary carcinoma of the thyroid. Thyroid carcinoma, especially papillary carcinoma, rarely develops a macroscopic tumor thrombus. Patients with an extensive tumor thrombus generally have poor prognoses and high mortality. This patient has been followed for 7 months after successful operation without recurrence.     

Large adrenocortical carcinoma extending into the inferior vena cava and right atrium

A case of large adrenocortical carcinoma extending into the inferior vena cava and right atrium is reported. Computed tomography showed a large mass displacing the left kidney inferiorly with an intravascular tumour thrombus extending into the inferior vena cava and right atrium. Radical surgery under hypothermia and cardiopulmonary bypass was performed and the tumour mass, together with the tumour thrombus, was successfully removed. The presence of intravascular tumour extension alone should not be a contraindication to radical surgical therapy, as it is the best hope for prolonged survival.     

Primary leiomyosarcoma of the seminal vesicle

A case of leiomyosarcoma of the seminal vesicle detected as a prerectal mass on routine per-rectal examination is described in a 37-year-old man. Computed tomography scan confirmed it to be arising from the right seminal vesicle. Per-rectal trucut biopsy showed malignant cells. Radical cystoprostatectomy with bilateral pelvic lymphadenectomy with anterior resection of rectum and urinary diversion with ileal conduit was performed. Microscopic examination of the resected specimen showed moderately differentiated leiomyosarcoma from the seminal vesicle. The patient received adjuvant chemotherapy and sandwiched radiotherapy. He is well and free of tumor 20 months after surgery.     

Retrieval of greenfield filter from the right atrium

A Greenfield filter prematurely discharged in the right atrium (tricuspid valve) was retrieved by a double snare technique with minimal modification (shortening) of the carrier through the initial internal jugular venotomy incision.     

Renal cell carcinoma extending into the right atrium; report of a case

A 62-year-old male was diagnosed through abdominal ultrasonography, with right renal cell carcinoma extending into the inferior vena cava. Surgery was performed because echocardiography revealed the tumor to have reached the right atrium. The portion of the tumor situated in the right atrium was resected under the extracorporeal circulation. Distal part of inferior vena cava was resected with the tumor included. The tumor remaining in the confluence of hepatic veins was removed from the incised end of the inferior vena cava and was detached from the venous wall. Postoperative abdominal echography revealed a small additional tumor mass in hepatic veins. Although this mass was considered to be a remnant of the intravenous tumor, an additional surgical procedure was judged to be impossible. In retrospect, an additional long-axis incision on the inferior vena cava might have enabled us to catch the remnant of the tumor thrombus in the hepatic vein.     

Complete resection of cardiac leiomyosarcoma extending into the pulmonary trunk and right pulmonary artery

A cardiac leimyosarcoma is an extremely rare tumor. We report a case of complete resection of a cardiac leiomyosarcoma extending into the pulmonary trunk and the right pulmonary artery using the Freestyle bioprosthesis (Medtronic, Inc, Minneapolis, MN) and Xenomedica graft (Baxter Healthcare Corp, Horw, Switzerland). Extensive resection and reconstructive surgery with the addition of radiotherapy prolonged the patient's life.     

Cardiac metastasis of great saphenous vein leiomyosarcoma

We present a case with cardiac metastasis of the great saphenous vein leiomyosarcoma (LMS) that presented to the emergency department with dyspnea and palpitations 2 months ago. In this patient, hemodynamic instability was caused by an extensive right ventricular cavity and outflow tract invasion of the LMS. Treatment of the patient included incomplete mass resection, adjuvant chemotherapy, and permanent pacemaker implantation (due to postoperative complete atrio-ventricular block).     

Successful resection of cardiac metastatic liposarcoma extending into the SVC, right atrium, and right ventricle

Cardiac metastatic liposarcoma is a rare tumor. We report a case of successful resection of a cardiac metastatic liposarcoma extending into the superior vena cava (SVC), right atrium, and right ventricle. Using cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) by venous cannulation of the upper portion of the SVC and inferior vena cava (IVC), the intracardiac tumor was completely resected. Surgical resection with the addition of radiotherapy prolonged the patient's life.     

经腹手术取出下腔静脉及右心房肾癌癌栓

目的:探讨在非体外循环下,经腹手术取出转移至下腔静脉及右心房内的肾癌栓的效果。方法:采用肝移植术中背驮式游离肝脏的技术,在充分暴露肝后下腔静脉的前提下,将右心房内癌栓挤至膈肌以下,纵形切开下腔静脉取除。结果:成功取出长13cm、直径3cm的癌栓,术中出血600ml。随访30个月,患者恢复正常工作,肝肾功能正常。结论:经腹游离肝脏后,可取出高达膈肌以上的下腔静脉和右心房内的癌栓,操作要点是减少术中出血并防止癌栓脱落。     

Adrenal myelolipoma: A case report and review of the literature

A case of a 73 year old man who was preoperatively diagnosed as possibly having adrenal myelolipoma is presented herein. Adrenal myelolipoma is an uncommon benign tumor of which only 74 foreign cases and 43 Japanese cases have been previously reported in the literature dealing with surgically removed myelolipomas. The most consistent complaint of the adrenal myelolipoma sufferer is abdominal pain, caused by hemorrhaging in the tumor, and many cases are associated with obesity, hypertension and/or diabetes mellitus. There is now an increasing number of such cases being diagnosed during abdominal scanning with ultrasonography or computerized tomography for unrelated problems, whereupon the myelolipoma is usually surgically resected. With the availability of modern scanning techniques and fine needle biopsy, however, it should be possible to adopt a more conservative approach to the management of asymptomatic adrenal myelolipoma. Nevertheless, symptomatic or large tumors, must be removed since there is a high risk of spontaneous hemorrhage.     

Primary leiomyosarcoma of the breast

Sarcomas of the breast are rare, accounting for about 1% of all malignant breast tumors. Leiomyosarcoma of the breast was an almost unknown tumor until some 20 years ago, and the few previously published cases lacked detailed information. Only 11 well-documented cases of leiomyosarcoma of the breast had been reported in the literature up to February 1992. The clinical features, diagnosis, therapy, and prognosis are discussed here in the light of the previously published literature.