Venous involvement by follicular carcinoma of the thyroid gland.

Involvement of the great veins by thyroid neoplasms is a rare event: to date 9 cases have been reported and only 2 of them have been surgically treated. The authors describe a case of follicular thyroid carcinoma involving the proximal tract of the left innominate vein at its confluence with the superior vena cava: a neoplastic bud was protruding into the lumen, but the endothelial lining appeared to be perfectly preserved. Full radicality was obtained by a major vascular procedure.

[Leiomyosarcoma of the inferior vena cava].

Leiomyosarcoma is a rare tumor of soft tissues. The inferior vena cava is affected infrequently, a literature review showing only 66 cases reported previously, 29 of these patients undergoing radical surgery. The case described was diagnosed during operation for gallstones, and the lesion was excised radically using an original technique.