Background

Intracardiacleiomyomatosis (ICLM), a condition not commonly seen, is characterized by pathologically benign smooth muscle tumor of extracardiac origin reaching up to the right heart by direct extension into the venous channel(s) [1].

It has been postulated that this tumor originates either from a uterine leiomyoma that has invaded the vessels or from the smooth muscle wall of the veins itself [1,2,3]. Cardiac involvement by extension has been reported in approximately 10% of leiomyomatosis cases [4]. Cardiac involvement is often confused with a primary cardiac tumor or migrant venous thrombus [4, 5].

The case of intravenous leiomyomatosis with cardiac extension was first reported by Birch Hirchfeld in 1897 [6]. According to Liu et al., by 2009 there were about 110 cases of ICLM [7]. We describe a case of intravenous leiomyomatosis with intracardiac extension in a 40 years old woman who underwent hysterectomy (1 year earlier) for uterine leiomyoma, which was managed successfully through one-stage surgical approach.

We obtained consent from the patient to publish this case.

Case presentation

A 40-year-old female with a history of total abdominal hysterectomy for uterine leiomyoma 1 year back, presented with chief complaints of gradually increasing heaviness and distension of abdomen, edema feet, and decreased appetite since the last 3 months. She had dyspnea on exertion and had two episodes of syncope for the last 3 months. Her routine blood tests revealed proteinuria and mildly elevated liver enzymes.

Ultrasound abdomen findings were suggestive of mild hepatomegaly and dilated common iliac vein and inferior vena cava with IVC thrombus showing partial recanalization with extension into the right heart (Fig.1 and Additional file 1: Figure S1 a, b and c, Addional file 3). Both kidneys were normal.

Fig. 1
figure 1

Oblique grayscale ultrasound image showing the extension of intra-mural thrombus (in IVC ) into the right heart

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During the pre-anesthetic evaluation, trans-thoracic echo was performed (Fig. 2) which revealed a mass of 3 × 2 cm bulging into the right ventricle across the tricuspid valve, no intra-atrial attachments were visualized.

Fig. 2
figure 2

2D-echocardiographic image showing the rt. atrial mass bulging into the rt. ventricle through the tricuspid valve

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Contrast-enhanced CT (Fig. 3b; Additional file 2: Figure S2a and b) was done to assess the route and extent of involvement, which revealed multiple heterogeneously enhancing soft-tissue masses in the IVC (inferior vena cava) which was dilated. This mass was seen extending through the IVC into the right atrium. The right-sided ureter was compressed by this mass leading to right-sided hydroureteronephrosis.

Fig. 3
figure 3

CECT axial (a) and coronal (b) images revealing a dilated IVC (arrows) extending into the right ventricle. Dilated IVC compressed upon rt. ureter to cause rt. hydroureteronephrosis (Rt HDUN)

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Exploratory laparotomy was done and tumor presented in common, external, and internal iliac veins and IVC was removed (Fig. 4a, b). On pathological examination, the tumor consisted of pathologically benign smooth-muscle cells with prominent vascularization, as is typical for IVL.

Fig. 4
figure 4

Intracaval mass removed by exploratory laparotomy

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Based on the clinical, imaging and surgical findings a diagnosis of intravenous leiomyomatosis (IVL) with intracardiac extension was made (Additional file 3).

Additional file 3. Supplementary video. Ultrasound clip showing the mass extending into the right heart.

Discussion

Intravenous leiomyomatosis occurs usually at a mean age of 47 years, and more than half (approximately 60%) of patients have a history of a prior hysterectomy for uterine fibroids, as was also seen in the present case [1, 2].

Clinically, the presentation of ICLM can be quite variable. Though the condition may be detected incidentally in asymptomatic patients, the majority of cases present clinically with cardiovascular symptoms like breathlessness, tachycardia, syncope, palpitations, abdominal pain and distention, and/or lower extremity edema [1,2,3].

Our patient presented with signs and symptoms of heart failure, most likely due to intracardiac extension of tumor.

The diagnosis of IVL calls for a high index of clinical suspicion in combination with imaging features. Less than 300 cases have been described in the English medical literature, with the extension of the tumor into the heart in about 100 cases [4]. However, its actual incidence is probably more as it is usually misdiagnosed or not recognized in its early stages.

The role of sonography in IVL is limited to initial screening or recognizing intravascular mass or other intra-abdominal abnormality like hydronephrosis, in symptomatic patients which necessitates other investigations. While echocardiography may be of use in cases with intracardiac extension, cross-sectional imaging by CT scan and/or MRI is invariably required for defining the presence and extent of the tumor. Contrast-enhanced CT and CT angiography can help determine tumor extent and cardiac involvement [1, 4, 5] The typical CECT appearance of the mass can range from hypo- to hyper-enhancing, depending upon the timing of imaging and inherent blood supply of the tumor [6]. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can be of added benefit in localization of the tumor, its characterization, and in defining the tumor extent, due to its superior soft-tissue contrast resolution with the added advantage of being non-invasive, unlike CT which uses ionizing radiations [4]. It is also of use in cases where the use of contrast is contraindicated like in renal failure or when allergic to contrast.

On MRI, bland thrombus appears as a low signal intensity area on T2-weighted images due to the T2 shortening of blood decomposition products; whereas tumor thrombus shows intermediate to increased signal intensity on T2-weighted sequences. Diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) is a promising MR technique which is increasingly being used to differentiate malignant from bland thrombi (without the use of contrast media); tumor thrombus will show restricted diffusion similar to the primary tumor [6, 7].

On contrast-enhanced imaging, the bland thrombus will not enhance, whereas tumor thrombus will show enhancement and will be associated with the primary tumor.

The differential diagnosis of intravenous leiomyomatosis (intravascular mass showing enhancement on cross-sectional imaging) is leiomyosarcomas. Though it is not easy to differentiate these entities on imaging alone, sarcomas tend to be more aggressive and generally invade and extend outside the vessel walls and involve adjacent organs.

Management

Complete surgical removal of the tumor is the procedure of choice in the management of intravenous leiomyomatosis. Total abdominal hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy should also be done (if not already done) to take care of the stimulatory effects of estrogen. A multidisciplinary surgical team or a two-stage surgical approach may be required, depending on the pre-operative status of the patient and the extent of the tumor and/or the involvement of adjacent organs.

Though pathologically benign, intravenous leiomyomatosis may have aggressive biologic and imaging features. Therefore, diagnosing this rare condition requires a high index of clinical suspicion and imaging correlation on contrast-enhanced CT scans and/or MRI. Usually, surgical removal of the tumor in its entirety is required, which may be combined with neoadjuvant hormonal therapy such as tamoxifen or GnRH agonists, to take care of the associated estrogenic stimulatory effects. However, in spite of local tumor excision, recurrence is not uncommon (reported to be as high as 30%); therefore, regular clinical and imaging follow-up is recommended [7].

Due to the rarity and the atypical presentation of this condition, there is a high chance of clinical misdiagnosis. Thus, awareness of this condition by radiologists, gynecologists, physicians, and surgeons is of vital importance for proper and timely diagnosis of this potentially fatal but treatable condition.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the diagnosis of IVL should be considered in a female if she presents with a soft mass in the systemic veins, with or without extension to the right heart chamber, especially in patients with a history of uterine myoma. Furthermore, imaging modalities able to display the precise location and extent of the tumor, such as CT and MRI, are of great importance in the pre-operative assessment of IVL. Using a single-stage approach is a safe and effective method of tumor extraction in selected patients.