Neoplastic involvement of the inferior vena cava

Inferior caval vein invasion not infrequently complicates advanced neoplastic lesions. Primitive caval neoplasms (leiomyosarcomas) or other tumors such as renal carcinomas, pheochromocytoma, as well as liver, testis, and retroperitoneal tumors most likely cause caval invasion. In the past, caval invasion was a clear index of non operability, while today, a modern multidisciplinary approach allows to treat successfully even so advanced diseases. In the present report the Authors analyze the cases treated at the Dept. of Surgery of the University of Perugia, and review the most important international reports on this subject illustrating the new possibilities offered by IVC substitution with biological or artificial grafts.