A Case of Recurrent Tumor Thrombi in the Inferior Vena Cava after Resection for Sigmoid Colon Carcinoma with Multiple Liver Metastases

Atsushi Yamamoto, Yasuhiro Sumi, Makoto Takeuchi, Yoshihiro Ito, Fumio Sakashita, Koya Tochii, Shotaro Nakanishi, Ryosuke Horita, Shigetoyo Saji and Yutaka Ozeki

Department of Surgery, Kizawa Memorial Hospital

We report a case of tumor thrombi of the inferior vena cava (IVC). A 38 years old woman underwent sigmoidectomy, trisegmentectomy, and partial resection of hepatic S3 for sigmoid colon carcinoma with multiple liver metastases. Computed tomography (CT) 15 months later showed a left pulmonary S8 nodule, paraaortic lymph node swelling, and a retrohepatic IVC defect. We conducted video-assisted thoracotomy and partial resection of pulmonary S8. Pathological diagnosis confirmed a pulmonary infarction. Two years later, CT showed no marked changes in paraaortic lymph node swelling or the IVC defect. Based on a diagnosis of paraaortic lymph node and IVC thrombi metastases or IVC tumor thrombi, we resected paraaortic lymph nodes and graft replacement of the IVC. Pathological diagnosis confirmed metastases from sigmoid colon carcinoma. The postoperative course was uneventful and she is currently doing well and remains recurrence-free.

Key words
tumor thrombi, inferior vena cava, colon cancer

Reprint requests
Atsushi Yamamoto Department of Surgery, Kizawa Memorial Hospital
590 Shimokobi, Kobi-cho, Minokamo, 505-8503 JAPAN

Accepted
April 28, 2010

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