Case report

Intravascular leiomyosarcoma of the brachiocephalic region – report of an unusual tumour localisation: case report and review of the literature

Daniel-Johannes Tilkorn¹ , Marcus Lehnhardt¹ , Jörg Hauser¹ , Adrien Daigeler¹ , Detlev Hebebrand² , Thomas Mentzel³ , Hans Ulrich Steinau¹ and Cornelius Kuhnen⁴

¹  Department of Plastic Surgery, Burn Center, Hand Center, Sarcoma Reference Center, BG-University-Hospital "Bergmannsheil", Ruhr-University Bochum, Germany

²  Department of Plastic – Reconstructive and Hand Surgery, Diakonie Hospital Rotenburg/Wümme, Germany

³  Dermatohistopathologische Gemeinschaftspraxis Friedrichshafen, Germany

⁴  Institute of Pathology, BG-University-Hospital "Bergmannsheil", Ruhr-University, Bochum, Germany

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World Journal of Surgical Oncology 2008, 6:113doi:10.1186/1477-7819-6-113

Published:	27 October 2008

Abstract

Background

Intravascular leiomyosarcoma is a rare tumour entity originating from venous vessel structures and most frequently affecting the inferior vena cava.

Case presentation

A 69-year old patient presented with a biopsy proven leiomyosarcoma of the right supraclavicular region. Tumour resection and histological assessment verified the intravascular tumour origin arising from the internal jugular vein and extending into the surrounding soft tissue.

Conclusion

In the presence of a biopsy proven diagnosis of leiomyosarcoma the rare condition of an intravascular tumour origin has to be considered even without signs of venous stases. This may result in an altered surgical strategy. Microthrombembolism and pulmonary metastases may complicate the course of the disease.