Tumours invading the inferior vena cava (IVC) are
rare and are associated with poor prognosis [1]. Tumours
of the IVC are divided into primary and secondary.
Secondary tumours invading the IVC are common.
Secondary tumours either infiltrate the IVCwall from the
adjacent organs or grow along the lumen of the IVC as
tumour thrombus. The common tumours invading theIVC
are the renal cell carcinoma (RCC), primaryleiomyosarcoma
(LMS) of the IVCand the adrenal tumours.
The RCC represent 85% to 90% of the tumours
invading the IVC [2].About 10% of the RCCs invade the
renal vein and the IVC[3].About 5%to15%of the tumours
invading the IVC extend into the right atrium [4]. The
commonest primary malignancy of the IVC is the primary
leiomyosarcoma (LMS). It is rare, accounting for only0.5%
of all adult sarcomas [5].Adrenal tumours are histologically
divided into cortical and medullary tumours. Adrenal
tumours invading the IVC are also rare, and only a few
cases are reported [6].
The current article reports the largest number of cases
with tumours invading the IVC reported from Sri Lanka
over five years. The surgical techniques and the outcome
are also described.