| Leiomyoma | |
|---|---|
| Other names | leiomyomas, leiomyomata |
 | |
| Uterine lipoleiomyoma, a type of leiomyoma. H&E stain. | |
| Specialty | Oncology  |
A leiomyoma, also known as a fibroid, is a benign smooth muscle tumor that very rarely becomes cancer (0.1%). They can occur in any organ, but the most common forms occur in the uterus, small bowel, and the esophagus. Polycythemia may occur due to increased erythropoietin production as part of a paraneoplastic syndrome.
The word is from leio- + myo- + -oma, 'smooth-muscle tumor'. The plural form can be either the English leiomyomas or the classical leiomyomata.