Incidence of Leiomyosarcoma at Surgery for Presumed Uterine Myomas in Different Age Groups

J Minim Invasive Gynecol. 2020 May-Jun;27(4):926-929. doi: 10.1016/j.jmig.2019.06.013. Epub 2019 Jun 29.

Abstract

Study objective: To evaluate the incidence of leiomyosarcoma (LMS) at surgery for presumed uterine myomas according to different age groups.

Design: A retrospective cohort study.

Setting: A tertiary referral hospital.

Patients: All women undergoing surgery for presumed uterine myomas between January 1, 2006, and December 31, 2016.

Interventions: Laparoscopic myomectomy, laparotomic myomectomy, total hysterectomy, or hysteroscopic myomectomy.

Measurements and main results: A total of 1398 patients underwent surgery for presumed uterine myomas. The incidence of LMS was 2.15 per 1000 surgeries (n = 3, 1/466, 0.2%). In women under 40 years old, the incidence of occult LMS was 0 (0/561). In women between 40 and 49 years old, 190 myomectomies were performed (28% of the surgeries), and the rate of LMS was 1.49 per 1000 (n = 1, 1/673, 0.15%). In women over 49 years old, a total hysterectomy was performed in 82.3% of the cases, and the incidence of LMS was 12.2 per 1000 surgeries (n = 2, 1/82, 1.2%).

Conclusion: The incidence of occult LMS in patients under 40 years old undergoing surgery for presumed uterine myomas was 0. These findings are suggestive that the use of power morcellation in this population may be safe.

Keywords: Laparoscopy; Morcellation; Occult malignancy; Sarcoma; Uterus.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Hysterectomy
  • Incidence
  • Laparoscopy*
  • Leiomyoma* / epidemiology
  • Leiomyoma* / surgery
  • Leiomyosarcoma* / epidemiology
  • Leiomyosarcoma* / surgery
  • Middle Aged
  • Morcellation* / adverse effects
  • Myoma* / surgery
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Uterine Myomectomy*
  • Uterine Neoplasms* / epidemiology
  • Uterine Neoplasms* / surgery