title: Uterine angioleiomyomas: a report of 3 cases of a distinctive benign leiomyoma variant.
abstract: We report 3 cases of a distinctive uterine leiomyoma containing numerous thick-walled vascular channels, which we term angioleiomyoma. The leiomyomas occurred in women aged 33, 44, and 49 and ranged from 1.5 to 6.0 cm. They were composed of bland, spindle-shaped cells with numerous evenly distributed, arteriole-like vessels with thick muscular walls throughout. The spindle cells often swirled around the vessels. In 1 case, fibrin was present within vessel walls. The spindle cells were positive with smooth-muscle markers and negative with HMB45. We believe angioleiomyoma should be recognized as a distinct entity and included in the World Health Organization classification of tumors of the female genital tract as a benign leiomyoma variant, similar to cellular and atypical leiomyoma. Uterine angioleiomyoma has a close morphological resemblance to the similarly named skin tumor. We review uterine smooth-muscle and other mesenchymal neoplasms in which prominent vascular channels are a feature.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Royal Group of Hospitals Trust, Belfast, and University of Wales, Cardiff, UK. glenn.mccluggage@bll.n-i.nhs.uk
authors.forename: W Glenn
authors.initials: WG
authors.lastname: McCluggage
authors.forename: Adam
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Boyde
mesh_terms: D000199:Actins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D000328:Adult; D018229:Angiomyoma / Q000145:classification / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D002148:Calmodulin-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D003893:Desmin / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D007889:Leiomyoma / Q000145:classification / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D058950:Melanoma-Specific Antigens; D008875:Middle Aged; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D014594:Uterine Neoplasms / Q000145:classification / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*
chemical_list: D000199:Actins; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D002148:Calmodulin-Binding Proteins; D003893:Desmin; D058950:Melanoma-Specific Antigens; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins