En bloc removal of a large leiomyosarcoma arising from the inferior vena cava using retroperitoneal laparoscopic dissection of posterior vessels followed by cavectomy in a thoracoabdominal approach

Abstract

A 55-year-old Japanese woman had a large retroperitoneal tumor involving the inferior vena cava (IVC) in the right infrahepatic space. We performed en bloc tumor resection with the right kidney and ipsilateral adrenal gland. Because of the large tumor size, we used a retroperitoneal laparoscopic approach for the posterior dissection and performed renal artery ligation. Following open conversion by a thoracoabdominal anterior approach, the tumor was completely removed without major reconstruction. Pathological examination confirmed a leiomyosarcoma arising from the IVC. Retroperitoneal laparoscopic dissection of the posterior side enabled easy and safe surgery even for a large tumor involving the IVC. Keywords: Inferior vena cava, Leiomyosarcoma, Retroperitoneal laparoscopic posterior approach