Leiomyoma Vs. Leiomyosarcoma

There is one critical difference between leiomyomas and leiomyosarcomas; one is cancerous and the other isn't. Both types of tumors begin in smooth muscle so they can occur anywhere in the body, but they are typically found in specific locations. The symptoms and treatment depend on whether the tumor is cancerous and its size and location.

Leiomyoma Definition

• A leiomyoma is a non-cancerous (benign) growth that is most often found in the esophagus, uterus and small bowel. Esophageal leiomyomas are rare, yet they're the most common type of benign tumor found in the esophagus. They often cause no symptoms unless they become too large. Leiomyomas are the most common benign tumors of the small intestine. They also may not cause symptoms but may result in bleeding. If they grow large enough, they can become an obstruction. In the uterus, leiomyomas are called uterine fibroids. They cause pelvic pain, heavy periods or spotting between periods, and difficulty going to the bathroom.

Leiomyoma Treatment

• Treatment for uterine fibroids begins with medication to help the symptoms. Some of the medications also shrink the leiomyoma but the only permanent solution is removal of the uterus. Leiomyomas of the esophagus or small intestine need to be surgically removed if they cause symptoms.

Leiomyosarcoma Definition

• Leiomyosarcoma is a cancerous tumor that is included in the category of soft tissue sarcomas. Leiomyosarcomas are most frequently located in the uterus, abdomen and pelvis. These tumors can be present for a long time before symptoms appear. The symptoms include pain, a noticeable lump or swelling, and bleeding.

Leiomyosarcoma Diagnosis and Staging

• Blood tests, a look at the stomach and intestines through an endoscope, and barium enemas, x-rays and scans to visualize tumors are the first steps. If a tumor is suspected, then a biopsy must be performed to make an accurate diagnosis. After a pathologist looks at the cells under a microscope, the cancer will be staged and graded. This determines how treatment will proceed. Grading refers to how the cells look and whether they resemble the normal cells from the tissue where they began. This is an indication of how aggressively the cancer will grow and spread. Staging describes the size of the tumor and whether or not it has spread.

Leiomyosarcoma Treatment

• The first step in treatment is surgery to remove as much of the cancer as possible, which depends on its size and location in the body. During surgery, tissue samples will be sent to pathologists so that they can examine the cells and determine if the edges of the specimen removed are clear. If the edges are clear, then there is a high probability that the entire tumor was removed before it spread. Following surgery, radiation treatment or chemotherapy may be used to shrink any tumor that remains and to kill cancer cells throughout the body.