Successful one-stage surgical removal of intravenous leiomyomatosis with cardiac extension in an elderly patient.

Intravenous leiomyomatosis is a benign smooth muscle tumor that sometimes spreads to the right heart via the inferior vena cava. A complete surgical resection is necessary to ensure its successful treatment. Surgical removal has been performed safely in middle-aged patients. Here we report a case of successful surgical removal in an elderly woman (age 81 years). The woman was admitted with palpitation and diagnosed as having an intravenous leiomyomatosis with cardiac extension. She underwent a one-stage surgical removal with cardiopulmonary bypass and circulatory arrest. We therefore recommend a one-stage operation, if possible, even in elderly patients.