title: A rare case of a giant cystic leiomyoma presenting as a retroperitoneal mass.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Giant retroperitoneal uterine leiomyomas are uncommon. Degenerative changes of a leiomyoma may lead to unusual presentation resulting in misdiagnosis preoperatively. The final diagnosis can be made either intraoperatively or histologically.
  
  
  METHODS
  We report a 45-year-old multiparous women presented with abdominal distension and fatigue for six months. Abdominopelvic Sonography and computed tomography showed a large cystic mass that filled the pelvis and abdomen. With the preoperative diagnosis of a malignant tumor, a laparotomy was planned. Intraoperatively, a cystic mass originated from the uterus near the left side of the broad ligament extending to the retroperitoneal space was observed. Total hysterectomy and bilateral salphingo-oopherectomy was administered. The histology revealed a leiomyoma with cystic degeneration.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Retroperitoneal leiomyomas should be kept in mind in the diferrential diagnosis of a giant cystic mass in abdomen.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Erzincan University, School of Medicine, Erzincan, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ümit
authors.initials: Ü
authors.lastname: Naykı
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Erzincan University, School of Medicine, Erzincan, Turkey.
authors.forename: Cenk
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Naykı
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Erzincan University, School of Medicine, Erzincan, Turkey.
authors.forename: Paşa
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Uluğ
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, Erzincan University, School of Medicine, Erzincan, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ismayil
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Yılmaz
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Erzincan University, School of Medicine, Erzincan, Turkey.
authors.forename: Zeliha
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Cetin
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Erzincan University, School of Medicine, Erzincan, Turkey.
authors.forename: Yusuf
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yıldırım
keywords: Cystic degeneration; Giant Leimyoma; Retroperitoneal mass; Uterine leiomyoma