Surgery of tumors of the subdiaphragmatic inferior vena cava. Report of two cases and review of the literature.

Two cases of obstruction of the hepatic inferior vena cava (IVC) are presented. In Case 1, the obstruction was due to a calcified thrombus which presumably developed after lower limb trauma 19 months previously. Complete surgical correction was achieved with the aid of deep hypothermia and circulatory arrest. In Case 2, a right atrial tumor was mimicked by a propagating malignant hepatoma. Palliative removal of the tumor cleared the IVC passage. The etiology of tumors of the IVC and their surgical management are discussed.