Leiomyosarcoma Prognosis

Leiomyosarcoma is a cancer of the soft tissue that originates from smooth muscle cells. This rare cancer forms tumors in the reproductive organs, pelvis, large blood vessels and other parts of the body where smooth muscle cells exist.

Survival Rate

• Leiomyosarcoma typically has an unfavorable prognosis of less than three to five years' survival due to its high potential to reoccur and metastasize.

Retroperitoneum

• When the cancer occurs in the retroperitoneum--the space behind the peritoneum, which lines the abdominal cavity--these tumors are typically fatal.

Liver

• The liver is the most common site where the leiomyosarcoma cancer metastasizes.

Detection

• Leiomyosarcoma is often difficult to detect early on because symptoms are usually not prevalent. As the disease progresses, it displays minimal symptoms, such as discomfort and swelling, just from the pressure of the tumor on neighboring organs and tissues.

Symptoms

• The main symptoms of leiomyosarcoma include the presence of a mass, pain and fluid in the abdominal cavity, as well as liver enlargement, jaundice and obstruction of the hepatic vein. Symptoms also include swelling of the legs, kidney dysfunction and obstruction of the renal vein.