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Leiomyosarcoma is a type of soft tissue sarcoma that affects the smooth muscle tissues, which can be found in the blood vessels, digestive system, urinary system and uterus. Leiomyosarcoma usually starts in the abdomen and uterus. It is a rare type of cancer which begins to show as an abnormal cells growth that rapidly increase in size and damages healthy structures around it. The signs and symptoms manifested will depend on the location of the cancer such as mass or skin swelling.
Symptoms
The following signs and symptoms can be observed on patients with leiomyosarcoma:
- Pain
- Fever
- Exhustion
- Unexplained weight loss
- Bloated abdomen
- Nausea and vomiting
- Lump under the skin
Digestive system leiomyosarcoma signs and symptoms:
- Abdominal pain
- Nausea or vomiting
- Loss of appetite
- Black colored stool
Uterine leiomyosarcoma signs and syptoms:
- Abnormal discharges or bleeding from the vagina
- Frequent urination
Causes
The causes of sarcoma are unclear. Cancer generally begins when the DNA of the healthy cells mutates causing uncontrolled duplication, resulting in abnormal cells also known as a tumor. This tumor then starts to destroy the healthy cells in the surrounding areas causing them to metastasize (spread to other parts of the body).
Risk factors
- Radiation therapy for cancer is a contributing risk factor for sarcoma.
- Exposure to chemicals such as pesticides and weed killers.
Diagnosis
The following procedures may be performed to diagnose leiomyosarcoma based on the location of cancer:
- Physical assessment. The doctor will perform a physical examination with the assessment of medical history to determine the cause of the signs and symptoms.
- Imaging tests. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), Computed Tomography (CT) Scan or Positron Emission Tomography (PET) may be performed for diagnosis.
- Tissue biopsy. A sample of the suspected tissue is collected and sent to the laboratory to check for the cancer cells that comprise leiomyosarcoma.
Treatment
The treatment is chosen based on the size and location of leiomyosarcoma, and whether or not it has already spread to other organs, as well as the patient’s own preference and general health.
These are the treatment options available:
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- Surgery. The surgery is performed to fully remove the leiomyosarcoma. However, if the cancer is large and has spread to other body parts, total surgical removal may not be performed. In this case, the surgeon will only take out as much leiomyosarcoma as possible.
- Radiation therapy. Utilizes a high-powered energy beam through X-rays and protons to destroy cancer cells. In this procedure, the patients is positioned on a table and the machine navigates around the patient exposing the body to energy beams. It can be done after the surgery to destroy the remaining cancer cells.
- Chemotherapy. Uses medication to destroy cancer cells. This is a preferred treatment for leiomyosarcoma if the cancer has already metastasized or if surgical removal is not possible.
- Targeted therapy. Blocks specific abnormalities in cancer cells and kills them. The doctor analyzes the cancer cells to determine which drug can be used. Targeted therapy is used if leiomyosarcoma is already in its advanced stage.
