Degenerated huge retroperitoneal leiomyoma presenting with sonographic features mimicking a large uterine leiomyoma in an infertile woman with a history of myomectomy: a case report

Leiomyoma cellulare in the broad ligament of the uterus

There are only two reports on leiomyoma cellulare (LC) in the parametrium that have been published so far. Aim of the study was analysis of two cases of LC in the parametrium diagnosed postoperatively, and review of literature on the subject. Case 1: A 50-year-old patient was operated on for LC located in the right parametrium and concomitant malignant tumour in the right ovary. Leiomyoma cellulare was resected, hysterectomy and bilateral appendectomy performed, and bilateral iliac and obturator lymph nodes excised. Case 2: A 46-year-old patient was operated on for giant LC, on the left side, reaching the retroperitoneal space in the meso- and epigastrium. Leiomyoma cellulare was resected, and hysterectomy and bilateral appendectomy performed. The patient was reoperated twice due to haemorrhage within 24 hours following the operation. A literature review found reports on two cases of LC in 29- and 50-year-old patients with LC in the parametrium, located on the right and left side, respectively. Casuistic location of LC in the parametrium justifies reporting the cases in the literature. Preoperative diagnosis of LC in the parametrium is difficult. Conservative treatment, i.e. myomectomy should be reserved for those patients who wish to maintain fertility.

Parasitic leiomyomas: a systematic review

BACKGROUND

Parasitic leiomyomas were first described as early as 1909 but are a rare condition. In recent years, due to the rise of laparoscopic surgery and power morcellation, several cases of parasitic leiomyomas associated with this surgical procedure have been reported.

METHODS

A literature search was performed using PubMed, Embase and Google Scholar with the following combination of keywords: leiomyoma OR uterine neoplasms OR uterine myomectomy OR laparoscopy OR hysterectomy OR peritoneal neoplasms AND parasitic. Papers describing parasitic leiomyomas were included. The results of these studies are summarized herein.

RESULTS

We retrieved abstracts of 756 papers. Of these, 591 were excluded for not fulfilling the inclusion criteria and 54 were removed as duplicates; after full-text assessment, 8 were rejected for presenting cases of malignancy and finally 103 were included in our systematic review. From these, we present information about 274 patients with parasitic leiomyomas. The mean age of women was 40 years (range 18-79 years); and 154 (56%) had no history of uterine surgery, the others (120, 44%) having had a previous myomectomy or hysterectomy. Of the total, 106 (39%) women had a history of power morcellation. The most frequent clinical symptom was abdominal pain (49%) and the most frequent presentation was disseminated peritoneal leiomyomatosis.

CONCLUSIONS

While parasitic leiomyoma was first described a century ago, the recent introduction of laparoscopic power morcellation has increased the number of reported cases.

A rare case of retroperitoneal leiomyoma

Introduction. Leiomyoma uteri is one of the most common benign conditions for which women undergo hysterectomy every year. Fibroids found retroperitoneally are a rare entity, especially, primary retroperitoneal fibroid. Case Presentation. We report a case of 42-year-old para 1 who presented to our hospital with recurring retention of urine, lower abdominal and pelvic pain, and dyspareunia . Provisional diagnosis on the basis of examination and imaging was large subserosal fibroid with mild right-sided hydroureteronephrosis, due to pressure effect of the fibroid. Abdominal hysterectomy was done for the patient, and intraoperatively, a bulky uterus was found with multiple small fibroids on anterior and posterior walls, and a large fibroid approx. 10 × 8 cm was found arising from the posterior surface at the level of internal os retroperitoneally, which was confirmed by histopathology as leiomyoma. Conclusion. Retroperitoneal fibroids are rare neoplasms and treatment is surgical removal. Preoperative imaging can only give provisional diagnosis and can be misguiding. Final diagnosis of retroperitoneal fibroid can be made only intraoperatively.