Leiomyosarcoma

Leiomyosarcoma

It is an infrequent type of cancer mostly affecting abdomen but can occur anywhere in the body soft tissues. It affects large blood vessels particularly inferior vena cava and pulmonary artery. Usually measuring about 4 inches it is accompanied by weight loss. Nausea, vomiting.  

Diagnosis

Leiomyosarcoma can mimic other types of tumor including uterine fibrinoids {leiomyoma}. However, the only proper way to diagnose is to examine uterine tissues after hysterectomy. Imagining tests are usually done like 

  1. X-rays
  2. Computerized tomography scans
  3. Magnetic resonance imaging
  4. Positron emission tomography
Biopsy

Two types of biopsy can be done  

  1. Core needle biopsy.  by this samples from different sections of tumor can be obtained  
  2. Surgical biopsy. By this small tumor can entirely be removed or large samples of tissue can be obtained
Treatment

Main line of treatment is the surgical removal of tumor regardless of the location of tumor  

  • Morcellator is a devise that is used to grind uterine tissues while performing hysterectomies to aid in the removal of tissues. However, this devise usually used in past.
  • These days FDA restrict the use of morcellators for the woman of post-menopausal women because it increases the risk of previously morcellated undiagnosed cancer.
  • It is seen that about 1/3rdof leiomyosarcomas occurring in the uterus is already metastasize in the body at the time of diagnosis. 
  • Surgery
  • It is the most common method to remove a tumor along with some surrounding healthy tissue
  • If sarcoma affects leg or arm radiation therapy is given first to shrink the tumor and avoid amputation.
  • Radiation and chemotherapy: these therapies are used to treat advance stages of cancer.Chemotherapy is often used to treat rhabdomyosarcoma.  High power beam of energy is used in radiation therapy. 
  • Targeted drug therapy: particularly useful for gastrointestinal stromal tumor. They are more effective than chemotherapy and nearly nontoxic.  
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