Intravenous low-grade endometrial stromal sarcoma with intracardiac extension: A CASE OF inaccurate tumor location on contrast-enhanced computed tomography

Abstract

We herein report a case of low-grade endometrial stromal sarcoma with intracardiac extension in a 58-year-old woman with a uterine tumor with intravascular involvement. The tumor was suspected preoperatively to be an endometrial stromal sarcoma by magnetic resonance imaging. The extent of intravascular involvement was determined to be below the level of the renal veins on preoperative contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT). However, perioperative echography revealed that the tumor extended to the right atrium. An emergency cardiotomy with extracorporeal circulation was required. The risk of tumor embolism was reduced through transection of the inferior vena cava, but the tumor was difficult to remove completely. Postoperative hormonal therapy reduced the size of the residual tumor and no recurrence was detected for 1 year. The preoperative contrast-enhanced CT was unable to detect the free-floating intravascular tumor. This case illustrates a limitation of CT and indicates that accurate determination of the tumor extent for planning a surgical strategy in similar cases should be performed using multiple imaging methods.