Intracardiac leiomyomatosis: Echocardiographic features

Intravenous leiomyomatosis is a histologically benign smooth-muscle tumor arising from either a uterine myoma or the walls of a uterine vessel with extension into veins. Echocardiographic features of two eases of intravenous leiomyomatosis with extensive spread into the right-sided cardiac chambers and pulmonary arteries are described. Both patients were middle- aged women, with prior history of hysterectomy 12 and 10 years earlier who presented with cardiac symptoms and signs. Distinctive echocardiographic features include 1) elongated mobile masses extending from the veins of the lower body, including inferior vena cava and azygos vein; 2) multiple venous attachments or metastases; and 3) filling of venous vessels and right-heart chambers. Intracardiac leiomyomatosis should be considered in a female patient presenting with an extensive mass in the right-sided cardiac chambers.