Leiomyosarcoma (LMS) is a rare cancerous tumor of the smooth muscle cells. It is a soft tissue sarcoma, which are cancers that attack soft tissues such as fat and muscle cells. What are Smooth Muscle Cells? The body has two distinct types of muscles: voluntary and involuntary. Voluntary muscles refer to the muscle groups that control the deliberate physical activities of the body, such as the biceps, triceps... Read more >
Uterine leiomyosarcoma (LMS) is a rare form of cancer of the uterus, where smooth muscle tumors develop in the lining of the uterus. However, the generic term smooth muscle tumor is used to describe both cancerous and non-cancerous tumors of the uterus. Uterine leiomyosarcoma refers to malignant tumors, whereas an example of a benign tumor is a fibroid, also known as uterine myoma (short for leiomyoma).The uterus... Read more >
Leiomyosarcoma cancer can occur in any of the smooth muscle tissues of the body.In the early stages, leiomyosarcoma is often asymptomatic. Even the more advanced stages of leiomyosarcoma cancer tend to exhibit few specific symptoms apart from a distinct swelling, and possible bleeding and discomfort as the cancerous tumor presses against the surrounding healthy tissue.Leiomyosarcoma Cancer PrognosisSurvival rates... Read more >
Surgical biopsy is necessary to determine whether a soft tissue tumor is malignant or benign and to establish the prognosis for leiomyosarcoma. A biopsy generally involves making a small incision and inserting a special needle to remove a sample of the tumor tissue. When uterine leiomyosarcoma is suspected, a small piece of affected smooth muscle tissue is biopsied from inside the uterus. A pathologist (a... Read more >
According to the June 2002 issue of Journal of Clinical Oncology: "Current treatment options for recurrent or advanced leiomyosarcoma (LMS) of uterine or other organ origin are limited. Although approximately sixty percent of women with uterine LMS present with disease that is limited to the uterus, cure ranges from twenty to sixty percent." The type of leiomyosarcoma treatment depends on the stage of... Read more >
Bioscience.org. (nd). Leiomyosarcoma. Retrieved September 3, 2003, fromwww.bioscience.org/atlases/tumpath/musbone/muscle/3/synposis. htm.Hensley, M. L., Maki, R., Venkatraman, E., Geller, G., Lovegren, M., Aghajanian, C., Sabbatini, P., et al.. (2002, June). Gemcitabine and docetaxel in patients with unresectable leiomyosarcoma: Results of a phase II trial. Journal of Clinical Oncology 20... Read more >
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