Leiomyosarcoma is a rare type of cancer that develops in smooth muscle cells, with a poor prognosis and symptoms varying depending on the location of the cancer. Surgery is the only viable treatment option, but recurrence is probable and follow-up treatment is not established.
Leiomyosarcoma is a type of cancer that develops in smooth muscle cells. It is an extremely rare type of cancer; in the United States, for example, the frequency of leiomyosarcomas is just 1.4 cases per 100,000 people. The prognosis for this type of cancer is generally poor, with a five-year survival rate ranging from 30% to 90%, depending on several factors.
Smooth muscle cells are found in involuntary muscles, which are found in many parts of the body, including the stomach, intestines, uterus, skin, and blood vessel walls. Involuntary muscle tissue is so called because it is not possible to cause these muscles to move; the movement of these muscles occurs automatically in response to bodily stimuli. The most common sites for leiomyosarcoma development are the gastrointestinal tract and uterus.
Cancer can develop in multiple locations, so the symptoms of leiomyosarcoma vary widely. All types can cause pain, swelling, and a lump to form at the site of origin, although the lump isn’t always obvious right away. A uterine or gastrointestinal lump may not be apparent immediately, while a lump on the skin will be noticeable much sooner. When cancer develops in the gastrointestinal tract, it could cause bloating, gas, digestion problems, or blood in the stool. In the case of uterine cancer, the main symptom is often abnormal vaginal bleeding.
For many people with this cancer, bleeding is the primary symptom. The bleeding might be slow and constant or intermittent. In some cases of leiomyosarcoma, bleeding can become hemorrhagic. When this occurs, emergency medical treatment is needed, usually involving one or more blood transfusions. As many as half of those with hemorrhagic bleeding may also require emergency surgery to locate and stem the bleeding.
Leiomyosarcoma is treatable only in cases where surgery to remove the cancer is a viable treatment option. If the entire tumor, plus the local lymph nodes, can be successfully removed, a cure is possible as long as the cancer has not spread beyond the nearest lymph nodes. This surgery is usually followed by chemotherapy or radiation therapy to kill any remaining cancer cells. However, chemotherapy and radiation are not effective as standalone treatments.
While surgery can successfully cure cancer, it is not a guaranteed cure. Recurrence of the cancer tends to be probable rather than possible, and due to the rarity of leiomyosarcomas, a standard for follow-up treatment has not been established. Generally, a patient who has been treated for this disease will have scans and blood tests annually to check for cancer recurrence.
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