Primary left-atrial leiomyosarcoma.

A patient rapidly developing right heart failure due to a left-atrial leiomyosarcoma was admitted for surgery. A large tumor, originating in the left atrium and extending into both pulmonary veins, was removed. Histology showed an unusual epitheloid appearance of many cells with occasional mitoses and a strong immunexpression to desmin and actin. Six months later heart failure developed again: computer tomography demonstrated regrowth of the tumor in the left atrium with invasion of the mediastinum and the para-aortal lymph nodes. The patient died shortly after.

[Monstrous venous hemangioma of the retroperitoneum: problems of diagnosis]. / Monströses venöses Hämangiom des Retroperitoneums--Probleme der Diagnostik.

The venal haemangioma is defined as a benign tumor consisting of veinlike vessels. The preoperative diagnosis and its inherent problems are illustrated using a coincidentally diagnosed monstrous haemangioma tumor of the retroperitonial space in a twenty year old patient. With respect to our patient, X-ray, computer tomography and angiography all failed as diagnostic tools. Only the use of Doppler sonographic flow signals suggested the presence of a haemangioma. The morphology, prognosis and clinical significance of blood vessel tumors are multifaceted. The most important differential diagnoses to the venous haemangioma are the cavernous and the capilliary haemangioma. The venous haemangioma distinguishes itself through the presence of blood vessel walls. Haemangiomas are common benign tumors. In the presence of highly developed muscular components, there exists a transition to angiomyomas and to leiomyomas. Venal haemangiomas are extremely rare in the demonstrated localisation of the retroperitoneal space. Here they can grow to monstrous preportions whilst remaining undetected. Thus the patient is under the potential danger of bleeding to death through trivial injuries. The therapy of choice remains total surgical excision. In situations of unclear clinical results with respect to preoperative diagnosis especially amongst young adults, one should at least consider the possibility of a haemangioma as the root of the problem.

[Monstrous venous hemangioma of the retroperitoneum. Problems in diagnosis]. / Monströses venöses Hämangiom des Retroperitoneums. Probleme der Diagnostik.

The venous haemangioma is defined as a benign tumor consisting of vein-like vessels. The preoperative diagnosis and its inherent problems are illustrated by a coincidentally diagnosed monstrous haemangioma of the retroperitoneal space in a twenty year old patient. With respect to our patient, X-ray, computed tomography and angiography all failed as diagnostic tools. Only the use of Doppler-sonographic flow signals suggested the presence of an haemangioma. The morphology, prognosis and clinical significance of blood vessel tumors are manifold. The most important differential diagnoses of venous haemangioma are the cavernous and the capilliary haemangioma. The venous haemangioma distinguishes itself through the presence of blood vessel walls. Haemangiomas are common benign tumors. They can grow to monstrous proportions whilst remaining undetected. Thus the patient is endangered of bleeding to death because of trivial injuries. The therapy of choice consists in total surgical excision. In unclear clinical situations with respect to preoperative diagnosis especially amongst young adults, the diagnosis of an hemangioma should be taken into amount.