[Uterine leiomyosarcoma. Nine case reports, review of the literature]

Abstract

Object of the study: To evaluate management and outcome of the treatment of uterine leiomyosarcoma.

Patients and methods: Retrospective study of a series of 9 patients treated for uterine leiomyosarcoma in this hospital from 1982 to 1994.

Results: The condition is rarely suspected preoperatively, diagnosis is usually made on histological examination of the operative specimen. The outcome is related to the mitotic activity of the tumour and to the infiltration of nearly structures. Surgery is the only effective treatment, chemotherapy is ineffective, adjuvant radiotherapy improves local control of the tumour but has no incidence on survival.

Conclusion: In the absence of an effective adjuvant treatment uterine leiomyosarcoma bears a poor prognosis with the only exception of small non infiltrating tumours with a low mitotic activity.