Leiomyosarcoma after uterine artery embolization. A case report.
BACKGROUND
Hysterectomy is the most common treatment for relieving symptoms attributable to uterine leiomyomas; however, alternatives to hysterectomy are becoming increasingly available. Uterine artery embolization is being used more frequently in this clinical setting.


METHODS
A leiomyosarcoma was diagnosed incidentally in a 51-year-old, nulliparous woman who underwent uterine artery embolization for symptomatic leiomyomata and subsequent total abdominal hysterectomy/bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy due to unsatisfactory results of the embolization procedure.


CONCLUSIONS
While the occurrence of preoperatively undiagnosed uterine leiomyosarcomas among patients undergoing hysterectomies has been reported, there are no reports of unsuspected leiomyosarcomas after uterine artery embolization. Criteria for selection of patients for the procedure should consider the possibility of leiomyosarcoma. With the increasing popularity of uterine artery embolization, cases like this are likely to be encountered in the future.
Joyce
A
A
Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey-New Jersey Medical School, 185 South Orange Avenue, Newark, NJ 07103, USA.
Hessami
S
S
Heller
D
D
D001158:Arteries; D003951:Diagnostic Errors; D004621:Embolization, Therapeutic; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007044:Hysterectomy; D007889:Leiomyoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D007890:Leiomyosarcoma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery; D017211:Treatment Failure; D014594:Uterine Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D014599:Uterus / Q000098:blood supply*