Tumor thrombectomy without bypass for low-grade malignant tumors extending into the inferior vena cava: report of two cases.

Endometrial stromal sarcoma (ESS) rarely extends into the inferior vena cava (IVC). Two cases of ESS extending into the IVC were encountered. In the first case a low-grade sarcoma and cavography revealed the tumor thrombus to extend to just below the left renal vein from the right internal iliac vein, and the IVC was patent. A tumor thrombectomy was accomplished to prevent pulmonary embolism (PE) and to achieve a good prognosis. The second case was also a low-grade sarcoma. Abdominal computed tomography scanning revealed a large thrombus extending into the IVC just below the hepatic vein. A tumor thrombectomy with an IVC resection was performed. The postoperative course was uneventful for both cases. Aggressive surgical treatment is thus recommended to excise a tumor thrombus with or without an IVC resection in patients with ESS of low-grade malignancy extending into the IVC to prevent sudden death due to PE.