Leiomyosarcoma

Leiomyosarcoma
Other namesLMS
Leiomyosarcoma of the adrenal vein. Coronal view of abdominal MRI. Tumor (arrow) extends from the superior pole of the right kidney to the right atrium.
SpecialtyHematology and Oncology

A leiomyosarcoma (LMS) is a rare malignant (cancerous) smooth muscle tumor.[1] The word is from leio- 'smooth' myo- 'muscle' and sarcoma 'tumor of connective tissue'. The stomach, bladder, uterus, blood vessels, and intestines are examples of hollow organs made up of smooth muscles where LMS can be located; however, the uterus and abdomen are the most common sites.[2]

Although leiomyosarcomas are rare, they belong to the more common types of soft-tissue sarcoma, representing 10–20% of new cases.[2] This type of cancer is more frequently diagnosed in adults as compared to children.[2] LMSs are seen in adults more often than they are seen in children.[3] When considering LMS specifically in the context of the uterus, it affects approximately 6 individuals per 1 million people in the United States each year.[2] LMSs are resistant cancers, meaning they are generally not very responsive to chemotherapy or radiation. The best outcomes occur when the tumor tissue can be removed surgically at an early stage, while it is small and has not yet spread from the original site (it remains in situ).[4]

  1. ^ "Leiomyosarcoma - Overview - Mayo Clinic". www.mayoclinic.org. Retrieved 2023-10-04.
  2. ^ a b c d "Leiomyosarcoma - NCI". www.cancer.gov. 2020-06-22. Retrieved 2023-10-04.
  3. ^ Kumar, Vinay; Abbas, Abul K.; Aster, Jon C. (2021). "Chapter 26: Bones, Joints, and Soft Tissue Tumors". Robbins & Cotran Pathologic Basis of Disease (10th ed.). Jeremy Bowes. p. 1208. ISBN 978-0-323-53113-9.
  4. ^ "Basic info". Leiomyosarcoma.info. Archived from the original on 2009-04-30.