[Venous leiomyosarcoma mimicking deep venous thrombosis: contribution of positron emission tomography]

J Mal Vasc. 2009 Feb;34(1):50-3. doi: 10.1016/j.jmv.2008.10.006. Epub 2008 Dec 17.
[Article in French]

Abstract

Leiomyosarcomas are rare malignant mesenchymal tumors. We report the case of a 55-year-old man with a lung metastasis from an iliofemoral leiomyosarcoma mimicking a deep venous thrombosis (DVT). Vascular leiomyosarcoma occurs in the wall of large vessels, and usually presents as unexplained DVT. To date, few cases of peripheral leiomyosarcomas have been described in the literature. This observation demonstrates the usefulness of Positron Emission Tomography (PET), beyond oncologic staging, in such indications as the workup of an unexplained DVT. In this report, PET prevented a misdiagnosis of DVT by showing a peculiar cockade appearance of the vessel. Compared with conventional imaging, PET can provide complementary information. The specificity of such information still needs to be assessed.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Fatal Outcome
  • Humans
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Leiomyosarcoma / diagnostic imaging*
  • Leiomyosarcoma / pathology
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Neoplasm Staging
  • Positron-Emission Tomography
  • Radiography
  • Vascular Neoplasms / diagnostic imaging*
  • Vascular Neoplasms / pathology
  • Venous Thrombosis / diagnostic imaging