Leiomyosarcoma overview
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Leiomyosarcoma Microchapters |
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Leiomyosarcoma overview On the Web |
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Risk calculators and risk factors for Leiomyosarcoma overview |
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Nima Nasiri, M.D.[2] Rekha, M.D.
Overview
Leiomyosarcoma is a type of sarcoma which is a neoplasm of smooth muscle. (When benign, it is called a leiomyoma.) Sarcomas are heterogeneous group of mesenchymal neoplasms are relatively rare and may arise in soft tissue, skin or various organs, and show a broad range of differentiation, such as smooth muscle (leiomyosarcoma), adipocyte (liposarcoma), striated muscle (rhabdomyosarcoma), endothelium (angiosarcoma) or fibroblast (e.g., dermatofibrosarcoma) Smooth muscle cells make up the involuntary muscles, which are found in most parts of the body: in uterus, stomach and intestines, walls of all blood vessels, and skin. Leiomyosarcoma is a very rare cancer. The symptoms of a leiomyosarcoma vary depending upon the exact location, size, and spread of the tumor. A leiomyosarcoma, especially in the early stages, may not be associated with any obvious symptoms (asymptomatic). General symptoms associated with cancer may occur including fatigue, fever, weight loss, a general feeling of ill health (malaise), and nausea and vomiting. Leiomyosarcoma of somatic soft tissue has a number of histologic subtypes including epithelioid leiomyosarcoma, myxoid leiomyosarcoma, inflammatory leiomyosarcoma, granular cell leiomyosarcoma and dedifferentiated leiomyosarcoma. The tumors may cause bleeding in the gastrointestinal tract and cause black, tarry, foul-smelling stools (melena), or vomiting of blood (hematemesis) or abdominal discomforts). A leiomyosarcoma of the uterus may cause abnormal bleeding from the uterus into and the vagina, with abnormal vaginal discharge, and a change in bladder or bowel habits. Surgery is considered the mainstay of treatment for all soft tissue sarcomas,