Abdominal leiomyosarcomas: radiologic appearances at various locations

Abstract

Leiomyosarcomas are soft tissue tumors that account for approximately 15% of all soft tissue sarcomas. Leiomyosarcomas may be located at almost any part of the abdomen but especially are more common in the retroperitoneum, followed by gastrointestinal tract and genital system. They develop mainly in adult life and are very rare in children. In this article, imaging findings of leiomyosarcomas in various abdominal locations are presented. Radiologic studies are capable of providing useful information on the localization, size, changes in the internal structure of the tumor, its extension and invasion. Leiomyosarcoma should be considered in the differential diagnosis in case of detection of a large, circumscribed, and heterogenous abdominal mass. Histopathologically, diagnosis of malignancy depends particularly on mitotic counts, size, rate of necrosis, and infiltrating margins.