Endoscopy 1 (1979) 63-69
Leiomyosarcomatosis of the Gastrointestinal Tract P. Rutgeeerts, K. Geboes, L. Broeckaert, G. Vantrappen E. Ponette Department of Medical Research, University of Leuven, Belgium Department of Biomedical Research, University of Leuven, Belgium
A case report of a patient suffering from diffuse leiomyosarcomatosis of the gastrointestinal tract is presented. The endoscopic features of the lesions localized in the stomach, the small bowel and the colon are compared with the radiological data. A
Leiomyosarkomatose des Verdauungstrakts Es wird ein Fall einer diffusen Leiomyosarkomatose des Verdauungstrakts vorgestellt. Der endo-
skopische Aspekt der Veränderungen in Magen,
Dönndarm und Dickdarm wird mit dem röntgenologischen Befund verglichen. Auf den histo-
description of the pathology of these polypoid lesions is given. The origin of this widespread
pathologischen Befund wird näher eingegangen, die
leiomyosarcomatosis of the gastrointestinal system is discussed.
diskutiert.
Ursache der ausgedehnten Leiomyosarkomatose
Key-Words: gastrointestinal hemorrhage, leiomyosarcoma, endoscopic and radiological appearance, pathological features.
Primary malignant smooth-muscle tumors of the gastrointestinal tract, especially leiomyosarcomas, are rare. They are mostly localized in the stomach, where they account
for malignancy of isolated tumors are the
for more than 1% of all malignant tumors (1). In the small bowel the frequency of leiomyo-
tumor necrosis and mucosal ulceration. A
sarcomas amounts to 10% of all malignant growths, but they occur almost never in the duodenum (2). In a case report published
per high-power field may be helpful (6) for
recently, the endoscopical characteristics of a leiomyosarcoma of the duodenum are described (3). Leiomyosarcomas of the colon
mitosis per 10 high-power fields) to grade IV (more than five mitoses per high-power field).
are as rare as those of the esophagus (4) (5-7%). Most colonic leiomyosarcomas arise in the rectum (5). Smooth muscle tumors of the gastrointestinal tract usually grow without symptoms. In
submucosal, subserosal or intramural type of growth. Typical is the so-called "dumb-bell" variety with subserosal and submucosal growth (4). Leiomyosarcomas of the gastrointestinal tract spread hematogenously to the
the esophagus dysphagia may be an early
liver, the peritoneum and the lungs. Local
symptom and in the rectum the tumor may be diagnosed at an early stage because of symptoms such as bleeding or feeling of fullness in the rectal region. Malignancy of a smooth muscle tumor of
spread occurs to the adjacent bowel or to the retroperitoneal space. We present a case of leiomyosarcomatosis of the entire gastrointestinal tract.
the gastrointestinal tract is to be suspected clinically if multiple lesions are present, if the tumor is large (> 4 cm) or if metastatic
A female patient, 45-years-old, was examined by a dermatologist in February 1976 because of two subcutanous nodules in the right upper abdominal
spread is obvious. Microscopical arguments
quadrant. The nodules were excised and, on
0013-726 X/79
number of mitoses, the increase in size of the tumor cells, inequality in the size and shape of the cells, lack of differentiation or presence of classification based on the number of mitoses determining the degree of malignancy. Such a
classification can range from grade I (one
Leiomyosarcoma of the colon can show a
1300-0063 $ 02.00 © 1979 Georg Thieme Publishers
Downloaded by: Universite de Sherbrooke. Copyrighted material.
Summary
64
P.
Rutgeeerts, K. Geboes, L. Broeckaert, G. Vantrappen
-
/ .-s4,;:._ 7. ,
...--
1144.
-..,,......
Leiomyosarcomatosis of the Gastrointestinal Tract P. Rutgeeerts, K. Geboes, L. Broeckaert, G. Vantrappen E. Ponette Department of Medical Research, University of Leuven, Belgium Department of Biomedical Research, University of Leuven, Belgium
A case report of a patient suffering from diffuse leiomyosarcomatosis of the gastrointestinal tract is presented. The endoscopic features of the lesions localized in the stomach, the small bowel and the colon are compared with the radiological data. A
Leiomyosarkomatose des Verdauungstrakts Es wird ein Fall einer diffusen Leiomyosarkomatose des Verdauungstrakts vorgestellt. Der endo-
skopische Aspekt der Veränderungen in Magen,
Dönndarm und Dickdarm wird mit dem röntgenologischen Befund verglichen. Auf den histo-
description of the pathology of these polypoid lesions is given. The origin of this widespread
pathologischen Befund wird näher eingegangen, die
leiomyosarcomatosis of the gastrointestinal system is discussed.
diskutiert.
Ursache der ausgedehnten Leiomyosarkomatose
Key-Words: gastrointestinal hemorrhage, leiomyosarcoma, endoscopic and radiological appearance, pathological features.
Primary malignant smooth-muscle tumors of the gastrointestinal tract, especially leiomyosarcomas, are rare. They are mostly localized in the stomach, where they account
for malignancy of isolated tumors are the
for more than 1% of all malignant tumors (1). In the small bowel the frequency of leiomyo-
tumor necrosis and mucosal ulceration. A
sarcomas amounts to 10% of all malignant growths, but they occur almost never in the duodenum (2). In a case report published
per high-power field may be helpful (6) for
recently, the endoscopical characteristics of a leiomyosarcoma of the duodenum are described (3). Leiomyosarcomas of the colon
mitosis per 10 high-power fields) to grade IV (more than five mitoses per high-power field).
are as rare as those of the esophagus (4) (5-7%). Most colonic leiomyosarcomas arise in the rectum (5). Smooth muscle tumors of the gastrointestinal tract usually grow without symptoms. In
submucosal, subserosal or intramural type of growth. Typical is the so-called "dumb-bell" variety with subserosal and submucosal growth (4). Leiomyosarcomas of the gastrointestinal tract spread hematogenously to the
the esophagus dysphagia may be an early
liver, the peritoneum and the lungs. Local
symptom and in the rectum the tumor may be diagnosed at an early stage because of symptoms such as bleeding or feeling of fullness in the rectal region. Malignancy of a smooth muscle tumor of
spread occurs to the adjacent bowel or to the retroperitoneal space. We present a case of leiomyosarcomatosis of the entire gastrointestinal tract.
the gastrointestinal tract is to be suspected clinically if multiple lesions are present, if the tumor is large (> 4 cm) or if metastatic
A female patient, 45-years-old, was examined by a dermatologist in February 1976 because of two subcutanous nodules in the right upper abdominal
spread is obvious. Microscopical arguments
quadrant. The nodules were excised and, on
0013-726 X/79
number of mitoses, the increase in size of the tumor cells, inequality in the size and shape of the cells, lack of differentiation or presence of classification based on the number of mitoses determining the degree of malignancy. Such a
classification can range from grade I (one
Leiomyosarcoma of the colon can show a
1300-0063 $ 02.00 © 1979 Georg Thieme Publishers
Downloaded by: Universite de Sherbrooke. Copyrighted material.
Summary
64
P.
Rutgeeerts, K. Geboes, L. Broeckaert, G. Vantrappen
-
/ .-s4,;:._ 7. ,
...--
1144.
-..,,......
