Much of the tissue in the human body is termed soft tissue. This tissue comprises blood vessels, connective tissue and muscle cells. Leiomyosarcoma describes a type of soft-tissue cancer that occurs within smooth muscle cells. This kind of cancer can be difficult to detect as it often causes no organ dysfunction until the tumor has gotten to be large in size.
Types
Leiomyosarcomas are cancerous tumors that form from smooth muscle cells. Smooth muscle is a form of muscle that is not under voluntary control. Macmillian Cancer Support explains that the most common locations for a leiomyosarcoma are in the uterus and the digestive tract, particularly in the stomach.
Symptoms
There are often no symptoms of a leiomyosarcoma, at least initially. Often the earliest symptom, according to the Mayo Clinic, is a noticeable lump or swelling within the the abdomen. If the leiomyosarcoma is pressing on a nerve or muscles, it can cause pain. Leiomyosarcomas that occur in the digestive tract can also cause gastrointestinal blockage or bleeding, which can manifest as blood in the stool. Uterine leiomyosarcomas can cause vaginal bleeding in post-menopausal women and abnormal menstrual bleeding in premenopausal women.
Causes
Leiomyosarcomas are relatively rare and it is not known exactly what causes them to develop. Macmillian Cancer Support does note that these tumors sometimes occur in parts of the body that have previously undergone radiation treatment, although often the sarcoma does not develop until 10 or more years have passed. There is also evidence that links exposure to some chemicals (such as vinyl chloride, weedkillers and dioxin) to the development of these soft tissue cancers.
Diagnosis
Uterine leiomyosarcomas, according to the Sarcoma Foundation, are most commonly found during a hysterectomy because this type of tumor can produce symptoms similar to uterine fibroids. Otherwise, these tumors are often first detected using a MRI, CT scan or an ultrasound. Endoscopy (which uses a small flexible camera) can be used to visualize the tumors and see how far they have spread within the body. A definitive diagnosis often requires a biopsy, which allows physicians to take a small sample of tissue and examine it under a microscope.
Treatment
When possible, the first-line treatment of a leiomyosarcoma is surgical removal of the cancerous tissue. According to the Sarcoma Foundation, a uterine leiomyosarcoma often requires a total hysterectomy, including removal of the fallopian tubes and the ovaries to prevent this cancer from spreading. Radiation treatments, according to Macmillian Cancer Support, can also be used to prevent cancer recurrence. In other cases, chemotherapy can be used to treat a leiomyosarcoma that has spread into the surrounding tissues, or as a post-surgical treatment to keep the cancer from coming back.
