[Leiomyoma of the bladder. Analysis of a collection of 90 cases]

Abstract

Introduction: Bladder leiomyomas (BL) are rare. Most publications regarding these tumours are reports of isolated cases; therefore they don't allow an evaluation of diagnostic and treatment procedures.

Material & methods: We preformed a pooled analysis of 90 cases of BL reported in the literature.

Results: Mean age was 45.3 (19 to 85 years), 68 (75.6%) were women. Filling symptoms were the most frequently reported (50%), followed by voiding symptoms (24.4%). Twenty four patients (26.7%) were asymptomatic. Tumours were endoluminal in 46 patients (51.1%), intramural in 27 (30%) and extravesical in 15 (16.7%). A laparotomy was performed in 56 patients (62.2%), with enucleation in 29 (32.2%), partial cystectomy in 25 (27.8%) and total cystectomy in 2 (2.2%). A transurethral resection was preformed in 27 (30%) and a transvaginal resection in 5 (5.6%). Two patients underwent conservative treatment. In 3 cases there were reports of recurrence and one patient got a vesicovaginal fistula.

Conclusions: Although BL are rare, when evaluating bladder tumours, imaging techniques can make suspect of this neoplasm. Surgical treatment of these tumours has a very high success rate. Usually an enucleation or a transurethral resection is sufficient to render the patient tumour free, avoiding a more iatrogenic surgery.