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. 2010 Jul 22:4:222.
doi: 10.1186/1752-1947-4-222.

A rare case of uterine leiomyosarcoma: a case report

Affiliations

A rare case of uterine leiomyosarcoma: a case report

Venkata Sujatha Vellanki et al. J Med Case Rep. .

Abstract

Introduction: Malignant change in a leiomyoma or uterine fibroid is termed leiomyosarcoma. It arises from smooth muscle of the uterus and is a rare tumor that accounts for 2% to 5% of all uterine malignancies. Very few cases are reported in the literature. Our patient did not have any history of genital bleeding, which is the usual presentation in uterine sarcoma. We report an original case report of an unusual presentation of this rare tumor arising from the uterus.

Case presentation: A 40-year-old nulliparous woman of South Indian origin presented with a mass in her abdomen for one year with a rapid increase in size over the previous three months. Tumor marker CA-125 was raised, and a computed tomography scan showed a mass arising from the pelvis. An exploratory laparotomy was performed and the histopathology report confirmed the diagnosis of uterine leiomyosarcoma.

Conclusion: Because of their rarity, uterine sarcomas are not suitable for screening. Diagnosis is by histopathologic examination and surgery is the only treatment. The prognosis for women with uterine sarcoma primarily depends on the extent of disease at the time of diagnosis and the mitotic index.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
The uterus with a pedunculated tumor.
Figure 2
Figure 2
A lobulated mass arising from the uterine fundus.
Figure 3
Figure 3
The uterus, cervix, bilateral fallopian tubes and ovaries and mass from fundus.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Cut sections of the uterus and the tumor.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Microscopic examination showing a cellular tumor arranged in interlacing bundles of spindle cells with elongated hyperchromatic nuclei and nuclear pleomorphism.

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