Case Report: Multidisciplinary management of primary inferior vena cava leiomyosarcoma: a comprehensive case study

Introduction: Primary Inferior vena cava (IVC) leiomyosarcoma, a rare malignant tumor, presents unique challenges in diagnosis and treatment due to its rarity and the lack of consensus on surgical and adjuvant therapy approaches.

Case Report: A 39-year-old female patient presented with lower limb swelling and mild fatigue. Contrast-enhanced CT identified a tumor mass within the dilated IVC. Abdominal MRI revealed primary IVC leiomyosarcoma extending into the right hepatic vein. A multidisciplinary consultation established a diagnosis and devised a treatment plan, opting for Ex-vivo Liver Resection and Auto-transplantation (ELRA), tumor resection and IVC reconstruction. Pathological examination confirmed primary IVC leiomyosarcoma. Postoperatively, the patient underwent a comprehensive treatment strategy that included radiochemotherapy, immunotherapy, targeted therapy, and PRaG therapy (PD-1 inhibitor, Radiotherapy, and Granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor). Despite the tumor’s recurrence and metastasis, the disease progression was partially controlled.

Conclusion: This case report emphasizes the complexities of diagnosing and treating IVC leiomyosarcoma and highlights the potential benefits of employing ELRA, IVC reconstruction, and PRaG therapy. Our study may serve as a valuable reference for future investigations addressing the management of this rare disease.

Introduction

Primary vascular leiomyosarcoma, a rare malignant tumor, is 2% of all leiomyosarcomas (1). The inferior vena cava (IVC) is the primary location where vascular leiomyosarcomas develop, and these tumors were first described by Perl and Virchow in 1871 (2). The prognosis for IVC leiomyosarcomas is discouraging, as study show that only around 49.4% survive for 5 years and a meager 29.5% for 10 years (3). The main treatment option is complete surgical removal, and additional therapy after the surgery may offer some improvement in the prognosis (4, 5). Nevertheless, the lack of agreement on the most suitable surgical approach and postoperative adjuvant therapy decisions is attributable to limited researches, predominantly consisting of individual case reports and small patient series. This case report examines the usefulness of radiodiagnosis, treatment choices, and experiences in a patient with primary unresectable IVC leiomyosarcoma. It also reviews existing literatures on Ex-vivo Liver Resection and Auto-transplantation (ELRA), tumor resection and IVC reconstruction (6–12). This study seeks to expand our understanding of diagnostic and treatment strategies for primary IVC leiomyosarcoma by examining a specific case and reviewing relevant literature.

Case report

A 39-year-old female patient presented with lower limb swelling and mild fatigue persisting for two weeks. Physical examination revealed only lower extremity edema. Her medical records indicate a 20-year history of hepatitis B. Upon conducting liver function tests, abnormalities were observed, with heightened levels of aspartate aminotransferase (180 U/L), alanine aminotransferase (80 U/L), and total bilirubin (14.8 μmol/L). A subsequent contrast-enhanced CT scan of the liver uncovered a tumor mass within the dilated IVC, providing visual evidence in Figures 1A, B. Pelvic CT angiography indicated the potential presence of right ovarian vein thrombosis. CT cinematic rendering generated a three-dimensional representation, effectively illustrating the size and extent of the IVC tumor (Figures 1C, D). The abdominal MRI examination provided clear evidence of the primary IVC tumor infiltrating the right hepatic vein and breaching the vessel walls, as depicted in Figure 2.

FIGURE 1

Figure 1 (A, B) The venous-phase CT displayed the dilated IVC, seemingly dipping into a slightly enhanced tumor mass invading the right hepatic lobe vein. (C, D) The cinematic three-dimensional rendering clearly depicted the tumor size and extent (blue), with the superior margin close to the right atrium entrance and the lower margin at the level of the left renal vein.

FIGURE 2

Figure 2 (A, B) The contrast-enhanced T1WI revealed the IVC tumor infiltrating the right hepatic lobe vein and vessel wall, along with the indistinct boundary (white arrowheads) between the right adrenal gland and the tumor. (C) The axial DWI distinctly showed the IVC tumor with a high signal. (D) The mass exhibiting progressive and heterogeneous enhancement was presented using coronal contrast-enhanced T1WI.

In response to this complex scenario, a multidisciplinary consultation was organized to establish an accurate diagnosis and develop a well-rounded treatment approach. Primary malignant IVC tumor diagnosis was reached based on multi-modal imaging after excluding IVC thrombosis or tumor thrombus secondary to liver or kidney tumors. Conventional surgery was deemed unsuitable for tumor resection due to exposure difficulties. Consequently, ELRA, tumor resection, and IVC reconstruction were proposed as alternative treatment options.

The surgery lasted approximately 11 hours, with an ischemic time of 100 minutes, without the use of a pump. The decision to avoid extracorporeal circulation was made because of our team’s extensive experience, which allowed us to complete the necessary surgical steps within the limited ischemic time while keeping the patient stable. In addition, avoiding extracorporeal circulation reduced potential complications and facilitated the patient’s recovery. The intraoperative blood loss was about 5000 mL, necessitating the administration of 16 units of type B RHD(+) leukocyte-depleted red blood cell suspension, 2200 mL of frozen plasma, and 10 units of cryoprecipitate. Cell saver was not used due to the malignant tumor and potential risk of tumor cell dissemination. Intraoperatively, a firm, immobile mass was identified within the IVC posterior to the liver, extending superiorly to the right atrial entrance and inferiorly to the level of the left renal vein. The entire liver and IVC (thoracic and retrohepatic segments) were resected, followed by autologous left liver transplantation after removing the right liver lobe and tumor. The tumor size measured 8cm × 6cm × 5cm, as depicted in Figure 3A. Subsequently, the IVC was reconstructed using artificial vascular grafts. Given the extensive trauma and prolonged surgical duration, the patient was transferred to the ICU for specialized care. Ventilator-assisted breathing was required, and a high fever developed, managed with antibiotic therapy. Following a four-day ICU stay, the patient’s condition stabilized, enabling their relocation to a general hospital ward. The overall hospitalization duration was 15 days. According to the Clavien-Dindo classification, the surgical complication was gradeII. Pathological examination confirmed primary IVC leiomyosarcoma infiltrating all vessel wall layers without invading surrounding tissues, as depicted in Figure 3B. Abdominal CT follow-up within one month postoperatively demonstrated patent artificial IVC and left and middle hepatic veins.

FIGURE 3

Figure 3 (A) The overall appearance of the resected specimen, which consisted of the right liver lobe and IVC tumor. (B) H&E stained pathological tissue section. Postoperative pathology demonstrated proliferative spindle-like cells with atypical nuclei (H&E, ×200).

Following the operation, the patient first went through adjuvant radiotherapy, then chemotherapy. Doxorubicin (40 mg intravenously guttae (ivgtt), days 1-3) and isocyclophosphamide (3.0 g continuous intravenous infusion (civ), days 1-5 for the first cycle; 5 g civ days 1-2 and 7.5 g civ days 3-5 for the second cycle) were used as the first-choice chemotherapy drugs for two cycles. Because of serious side effects, particularly bone marrow suppression, doxorubicin (30 mg ivgtt, days 1-3) and dacarbazine (300 mg ivgtt, days 1-3) were administered as an alternative for two cycles. Tragically, the patient experienced tumor recurrence and liver metastases 12 months after surgery, leading to a switch in treatment to immunotherapy and targeted therapy. A revised regimen was implemented, featuring tislelizumab (200 mg ivgtt, day 1) and anlotinib (12 mg per os (po), days 1-14) for two 21-day cycles, with anlotinib continued orally thereafter. At the 17-month postoperative stage, newly appeared lung metastases and progressed hepatic lesions were found, leading to an exploratory treatment of the liver and lung metastases with PD-1 inhibitor, Radiotherapy, and Granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (PRaG) therapy for one cycle each. Then, continued oral administration of anlotinib was maintained. Four months later, corresponding to the two-year mark post-surgery, the disease did not show significant progression, indicating partial disease control.

Discussion

Primary IVC leiomyosarcoma is a rare cancer that affects females more than males, with a ratio of 4:1. It typically appears around the age of 54 (13, 14). Early diagnosis is challenging due to its subtle onset, slow growth, and non-specific symptoms (15). The tumor can be put into three segments based on which part of the IVC is involved: SegmentI(below the kidney area, 34%), Segment II (between the kidney and liver area, 42%), and Segment III (from the liver veins to the right upper heart chamber, 24%) (16). In this case, both Segments II and III were involved. Although complete surgical removal is widely recognized as an effective treatment, the tumor’s extensive and deep location presents significant surgical obstacles. Hence, thorough preoperative assessment of tumor characteristics, accurate determination of tumor extent, and careful surgical planning are essential, with imaging techniques playing a critical role.

Contrast-enhanced CT, a prevalent radiological technique, is often utilized for preoperative assessments of IVC leiomyosarcoma (15). CT cinematic rendering, an advanced reconstruction technique, provides enhanced visualization of the tumor location and size, facilitating pre-surgical planning and improving communication between healthcare professionals and patients (17). MRI can provide better soft tissue resolution compared to CT and can clearly show the shape of the tumor, adjacent tissues and surrounding tissue relationships (18). Diffusion-weighted imaging, which doesn’t require contrast agents, excels at visualizing tumors and tumor thrombi due to its ability to detect restricted diffusion caused by increased tumor cell density and nuclear-cytoplasmic ratio. The main radiographic features of IVC leiomyosarcoma include an enlarged IVC with an intraluminal soft-tissue mass exhibiting irregular enhancement. Differential diagnosis primarily involves distinguishing between a secondary tumor thrombus and a clot-derived thrombus. Advanced imaging techniques are crucial for preoperative evaluation, and interdisciplinary collaboration significantly improves IVC leiomyosarcoma management by providing a comprehensive understanding and better treatment strategies.

In this case, the tumor’s extensive involvement and deep location made conventional surgical methods unable to achieve R0 resection. The tumor reached the right atrium’s entrance and infiltrated the right hepatic vein. We chose the ELRA surgical approach based on previous research on IVC leiomyosarcoma (11, 12). ELRA presents several advantages over standard methods, including more precise lesion removal, a reduced risk of uncontrollable bleeding, and fewer postoperative complications (18). Managing the IVC after resection is a critical consideration. The methods of ligation, repair, and reconstruction of the IVC after complete tumor removal remain a debated issue. IVC ligation may reduce the risk of leg edema for lesions located below the hepatic vein level, provided that sufficient collateral circulation has developed. Recent studies suggest that IVC repair or reconstruction may improve postoperative survival rates for most primary leiomyosarcoma patients (19). In this case, due to the adoption of the ELRA approach for curative tumor removal, IVC reconstruction became a necessity.

Postoperatively, the patient demonstrated a patent superior vena cava without thrombosis, notable improvement in leg edema, and favorable recovery. The combination of ELRA, tumor resection and IVC reconstruction presents a feasible surgical option for patients with unresectable IVC leiomyosarcoma, although careful evaluation of the procedure’s complexity and associated risks is essential. To gain a comprehensive understanding of the therapeutic efficacy of combining ELRA and IVC reconstruction, we reviewed and collated clinical, surgical, and postoperative follow-up data from previous cases. These cases involved the utilization of ELRA, tumor resection and IVC reconstruction as the primary intervention for IVC leiomyosarcoma. The organized information has been tabulated in Table 1 for ease of comparison (6–12).

TABLE 1

Table 1 Comparative patient characteristics & outcomes: ELRA and IVC reconstruction in IVC leiomyosarcoma.

From our literatures review and data analysis in Table 1, we acknowledge the complexity of ELRA and IVC reconstruction. This method has inherent risks due to tumor involvement, extended surgery times, and notable blood loss. Although not ideal, this approach remains effective for patients with unresectable IVC leiomyosarcoma. It can achieve tumor clearance and manage postoperative complications. Nonetheless, around 50% of people in Table 1 faced tumor recurrence or metastasis within two years after surgery. Therefore, it is crucial to closely monitor these patients, and personalized follow-up treatments may play a vital role in managing recurrent or spreading cancer.

Postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy and radiotherapy are frequently utilized as auxiliary treatments for IVC leiomyosarcoma (5). Doxorubicin and isocyclophosphamide, serving as cornerstone chemotherapy agents, are employed extensively (5). However, in comparison to the chemotherapy response observed in synovial sarcoma and liposarcoma, inferior response rates of only 10% to 25% are witnessed in IVC leiomyosarcoma (20). Consequently, IVC leiomyosarcoma frequently results in local or distant recurrence. In this case, liver tumor recurrence and metastasis occurred one year after treatment. To control the disease progression, targeted therapy combined with PD-1 inhibitors was administered, as previous studies have suggested their effectiveness (21). Nonetheless, the patient didn’t improve as expected, lung metastases developed four months later, possibly due to the advanced stage of tumor and the large tumor size. Eventually, the patient underwent the PRaG treatment. This therapy stimulates the patient’s immune system to combat tumor cells by combining radiation therapy, a substance called GM-CSF, and PD-1 inhibitors (22, 23). The partial improvement of the patient’s condition after PRaG treatment suggests that this approach can be considered as an alternative where conventional treatment modalities prove to be ineffective or contraindicated.

In summary, this case report emphasizes the challenges in diagnosing and treating primary unresectable IVC leiomyosarcoma. The use of ELRA and IVC reconstruction for radical resection, along with the innovative PRaG therapy for postoperative recurrence and metastasis, offers a potential solution for this rare disease. However, Further studies are necessary to determine optimal and consistent surgical and adjuvant treatment methods for IVC leiomyosarcoma.

Data availability statement

The raw data supporting the conclusions of this article will be made available by the authors, without undue reservation.

Ethics statement

The studies involving humans were approved by Ethics Committee of Guizhou Provincial People’s Hospital, Guizhou Province, China. The studies were conducted in accordance with the local legislation and institutional requirements. The human samples used in this study were acquired from a by- product of routine care or industry. Written informed consent for participation was not required from the participants or the participants’ legal guardians/next of kin in accordance with the national legislation and institutional requirements. Written informed consent was obtained from the individual(s) for the publication of any potentially identifiable images or data included in this article.

Author contributions

The writing of the manuscript was led by WL, with XZ responsible for image creation. The manuscript was subsequently revised by RW and YZ. All authors contributed to the article and approved the submitted version.

Funding

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No.81960314, No.82160349), the Science and Technology Foundation of Guizhou Province (QKHZC[2019]2810, QKHPTRC[2019]5803).

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Publisher’s note

All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article, or claim that may be made by its manufacturer, is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.

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