Preoperative Differentiation of Uterine Leiomyomas and Leiomyosarcomas: Current Possibilities and Future Directions

Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging features of abdominal and pelvic leiomyomatosis peritonealis disseminata: A retrospective observational study

Objectives

Leiomyomatosis peritonealis disseminata (LPD) is a rare and specific type of leiomyomatosis that is often misdiagnosed as malignant tumor with peritoneal metastasis, and accurate diagnosis is critical to treatment planning. The purpose of this study is to investigate the radiological features of LPD, analyze, and summarize its differential diagnosis and clinical features to improve the understanding of this rare disease.

Material and Methods

A retrospective analysis was conducted on clinical and radiological features from 10 patients with pathologically confirmed LPD between 2012 and 2024. The computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings were examined, focusing on parameters such as location, morphology, size, quantity, enhancement patterns, and their relationship with adjacent organs. In addition, the radiological features and the key points of differential diagnosis were summarized.

Results

All the 10 LPD patients presented with multifocal lesions in the abdomen and pelvis, and 7 of them had a history of hysteromyoma surgery. The number of lesions was all ≥2, most of them were round or quasi-circular, with clear boundaries and smooth edges, did not invade the neighboring parenchymal organs, with a length of about 1.5~16.8 cm. The lesions were located in the pelvic cavity in 6 cases, the abdominal wall in 6 cases, the intestinal wall in 3 cases, the rectouterine pouch in 1 case, the omentum in 5 cases, the abdominal cavity in 1 case, and the mesentery in 1 case. There were 7 cases with minimal pelvic fluid and 1 case with liver spread. CT showed circular solid nodules with clear boundaries. The density of small lesions was homogeneous. Cystic changes were observed in some large lesions. On MRI, T1-weighted imaging showed hypo to isointense, T2-weighted imaging (T2WI) mostly showed hypointense, and T2WI in some large lesions showed slightly high signal intensity, diffusion-weighted imaging signal intensity was not higher than that of myometrium, apparent diffusion coefficient showed isointense, and solid components of the lesions were significantly more homogeneous enhanced after enhancement, and the enhancement degree was similar to that of normal myometrium.

Conclusion

Although the imaging findings of LPD are similar to malignant tumors with peritoneal implantation and metastasis, they have certain characteristics, which are helpful for differential diagnosis combined with the clinical history of patients.

Clinico-radio-histopathological Correlation of Leiomyoma Variant, STUMP, and Sarcoma: A Retrospective Study

Objectives

We sought to compare the epidemiological and clinical features of variant leiomyoma, smooth muscle tumors of uncertain malignant potential (STUMP), and sarcoma to classical leiomyoma and assess the radio-histological correlation.

Methods

This retrospective, observational study was conducted in Royal Hospital, Muscat, Oman. We included all patients who underwent surgical treatment for uterine fibroids from 1 January 2011 to 31 December 2016. Data was retrospectively collected from electronic patient records, pictures archiving system, and histopathology reports, and analyzed using SPSS version 29 and MedCalc Statistical Software.

Results

Out of the 14269 patients who attended the gynecology outpatient department, 19.5% were clinically diagnosed with uterine fibroids. Surgical procedures were performed in 545 (19.6%) women. Diagnosis from histopathology reports was classical leiomyoma in 508 (93.2%) cases, variant leiomyoma in 35 (6.4%), and sarcomas in two (0.4%); there were no cases of STUMP. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) correctly identified 125 (89.9%) cases of classical leiomyoma and 2/11 (18.2%) cases of variants. The sensitivity and specificity of MRI to predict non-classical varieties was 22.22% and 88.65%, respectively. MRI had a strong negative predictive value (94.7%) for leiomyoma variants. The area under the curve for classical and variant leiomyoma was 0.63 (0.55-0.71) and 0.55 (0.47-0.64). The accuracy of MRI in predicting classical leiomyoma was 86.00 (79.40-91.12) and 84.67 (77.87-90.03) the non-classical varieties.

Conclusions

Epidemiological and clinical features were not helpful in distinguishing between classical leiomyoma and non-classical varieties. MRI had weak discriminatory power to distinguish between classical and non-classical varieties.

Preoperative identification from occult leiomyosarcomas in laparoscopic hysterectomy and laparoscopic myomectomy: accuracy of the ultrasound scoring system (PRESS-US)

PURPOSE

To assess the diagnostic performance and inter-observer agreement of a PREoperative sarcoma scoring based on ultrasound (PRESS-US) in differentiating uterine leiomyosarcoma (uLMS) from leiomyoma (LM).

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective evaluation of patients who underwent surgery and received standardized ultrasound examinations due to the presence of uterine myoma-like masses. Histological diagnosis was used as the reference standard. The masses were analyzed using morphological uterus sonographic assessment criteria, and the diagnostic accuracy of PRESS-US was evaluated using ROC curve analysis. Kappa (κ) statistics were used to assess the inter-observer agreement between a less experienced and an expert radiologist.

RESULTS

Among the 646 patients, 632 (97.8%) were diagnosed with LM, and 14 (2.2%) had uLMS. The malignancy rates for low-risk and high-risk patients were 0.35% and 13.48%, respectively. The optimal PRESS-US cutoff was 17.5, resulting in an AUC of 89.7% (95% CI, 0.79-1.00), with a sensitivity of 85.7% and a specificity of 87.8%. The inter-observer agreement between a less experienced and an expert radiologist was excellent (κ = 0.811, P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

PRESS-US provides effective risk stratification for uLMS for radiologists with different levels of experience, with high reliability. Subgrouping high-risk patients helps in better risk stratification.

Radiomics and quantitative multi-parametric MRI for predicting uterine fibroid growth

Significance

Uterine fibroids (UFs) can pose a serious health risk to women. UFs are benign tumors that vary in clinical presentation from asymptomatic to causing debilitating symptoms. UF management is limited by our inability to predict UF growth rate and future morbidity.

Aim

We aim to develop a predictive model to identify UFs with increased growth rates and possible resultant morbidity.

Approach

We retrospectively analyzed 44 expertly outlined UFs from 20 patients who underwent two multi-parametric MR imaging exams as part of a prospective study over an average of 16 months. We identified 44 initial features by extracting quantitative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) features plus morphological and textural radiomics features from DCE, T2, and apparent diffusion coefficient sequences. Principal component analysis reduced dimensionality, with the smallest number of components explaining over 97.5% of the variance selected. Employing a leave-one-fibroid-out scheme, a linear discriminant analysis classifier utilized these components to output a growth risk score.

Results

The classifier incorporated the first three principal components and achieved an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.80 (95% confidence interval [0.69; 0.91]), effectively distinguishing UFs growing faster than the median growth rate of 0.93    cm 3 / year / fibroid from slower-growing ones within the cohort. Time-to-event analysis, dividing the cohort based on the median growth risk score, yielded a hazard ratio of 0.33 [0.15; 0.76], demonstrating potential clinical utility.

Conclusion

We developed a promising predictive model utilizing quantitative MRI features and principal component analysis to identify UFs with increased growth rates. Furthermore, the model's discrimination ability supports its potential clinical utility in developing tailored patient and fibroid-specific management once validated on a larger cohort.

Disseminated peritoneal leiomyoma: a diagnostic dilemma

Disseminated peritoneal leiomyomatosis (DPL) is a rare and benign clinical entity. It is also known as leiomyomatosis peritonealis disseminata (LPD). Here, we report and discuss a case of a primiparous woman in her early 40s who presented with heavy, prolonged, painful menses and heaviness in her lower abdomen. She underwent a laparoscopic myomectomy for a fibroid uterus, 12 months ago for similar complaints. On workup, she was diagnosed with DPL. We performed a total abdominal hysterectomy with bilateral salpingectomy, low anterior resection with stapled colorectal anastomosis and excision of peritoneal tumour deposits in consortium with the gastrosurgery team. Her postoperative period was uneventful, and the patient was discharged on postop day 6. Her histopathology report was consistent with leiomyoma; the follow-up period was uneventful.

Current landscape of primary small bowel leiomyosarcoma: cases report and a decade of insights

The incidence of leiomyosarcoma (LMS) is about 4-5/100,000 individuals per year. LMSs occurring in the small bowel are even rarer, and their preoperative diagnosis is very difficult. We described two patients with pathologically confirmed small bowel LMS and analyzed their clinical and medical imaging features. Similar cases reported in English in Pubmed database over the past decade were reviewed and summarized. These tumors were categorized by the growth direction and relationship with the intestinal lumen into three types: intraluminal (n = 10), intermural (n = 3), and extraluminal (n = 7). Notably, among the three types of LMS, the intramural leiomyosarcoma stands out as a noteworthy subtype. Emerging evidence suggests that smaller tumor size (< 5 cm) and the intraluminal type may serve as favorable prognostic indicators, while the extraluminal type is associated with relatively poor prognosis. Furthermore, the integration of imaging features with CA125 and LDH biomarkers holds promise for potential diagnostic value in LMS.

Machine Learning Applied to Pre-Operative Computed-Tomography-Based Radiomic Features Can Accurately Differentiate Uterine Leiomyoma from Leiomyosarcoma: A Pilot Study

BACKGROUND

The accurate discrimination of uterine leiomyosarcomas and leiomyomas in a pre-operative setting remains a current challenge. To date, the diagnosis is made by a pathologist on the excised tumor. The aim of this study was to develop a machine learning algorithm using radiomic data extracted from contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CECT) images that could accurately distinguish leiomyosarcomas from leiomyomas.

METHODS

Pre-operative CECT images from patients submitted to surgery with a histological diagnosis of leiomyoma or leiomyosarcoma were used for the region of interest identification and radiomic feature extraction. Feature extraction was conducted using the PyRadiomics library, and three feature selection methods combined with the general linear model (GLM), random forest (RF), and support vector machine (SVM) classifiers were built, trained, and tested for the binary classification task (malignant vs. benign). In parallel, radiologists assessed the diagnosis with or without clinical data.

RESULTS

A total of 30 patients with leiomyosarcoma (mean age 59 years) and 35 patients with leiomyoma (mean age 48 years) were included in the study, comprising 30 and 51 lesions, respectively. Out of nine machine learning models, the three feature selection methods combined with the GLM and RF classifiers showed good performances, with predicted area under the curve (AUC), sensitivity, and specificity ranging from 0.78 to 0.97, from 0.78 to 1.00, and from 0.67 to 0.93, respectively, when compared to the results obtained from experienced radiologists when blinded to the clinical profile (AUC = 0.73 95%CI = 0.62-0.84), as well as when the clinical data were consulted (AUC = 0.75 95%CI = 0.65-0.85).

CONCLUSIONS

CECT images integrated with radiomics have great potential in differentiating uterine leiomyomas from leiomyosarcomas. Such a tool can be used to mitigate the risks of eventual surgical spread in the case of leiomyosarcoma and allow for safer fertility-sparing treatment in patients with benign uterine lesions.

Oncological outcomes of unexpected uterine leiomyosarcoma: A single-center retrospective analysis of 5528 consecutive hysterectomies

BACKGROUND AND METHODS

Uterine leiomyosarcomas (uLMS) are rare malignant tumors, often incidentally discovered, with an estimated annual incidence of five cases per one million women in the United States. This study aimed to compare the oncological outcomes of two groups of patients: those with uLMS incidentally found during surgery and those who underwent surgery due to suspected or confirmed uLMS before the procedure. The study assessed patients who had undergone hysterectomy and were diagnosed with stage I uLMS at a tertiary gynecologic oncology referral center in Italy between January 2000 and December 2019. Data on patients' baseline characteristics, surgical procedures, and oncological outcomes were collected. The patients were classified into two groups based on whether uLMS was unexpectedly discovered or suspected before the surgery. Survival rates and factors influencing recurrence were analyzed.

RESULTS

The study included 36 patients meeting the inclusion criteria, with 12 having preoperatively suspected or proven uLMS and 24 having incidentally discovered uLMS. No significant differences were observed between the two groups regarding disease-free survival (23.7 vs. 27.3 months, log rank = 0.28), disease-specific survival (median not reached, log rank = 0.78), or sites of relapse. Notably, among patients who underwent laparoscopic hysterectomy (compared to open surgery), a significantly higher rate of locoregional recurrence was found (78% vs. 33.3%, p = 0.04). Nevertheless, no significant differences in survival were observed based on the surgical approach.

CONCLUSIONS

Preoperative suspicion for uLMS did not seem to impact survival outcomes or the pattern of recurrence. Furthermore, although patients who underwent laparoscopic hysterectomy showed a higher rate of locoregional relapse, this did not affect their overall survival.

Uterine smooth muscle tumors: a multicenter, retrospective, comparative study of clinical and ultrasound features

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate a wide range of clinical and ultrasound characteristics of different uterine smooth muscle tumors to identify features capable of discriminating between these types.

METHODS

This was a retrospective, multicenter study that included 285 patients diagnosed with uterine smooth muscle tumors (50 leiomyosarcomas, 35 smooth muscle tumors of uncertain malignant potential, and 200 leiomyomas). The patients were divided into three groups based on the histological type of their tumors, and the groups were compared according to the variables collected.

RESULTS

Leiomyosarcomas were more common in older and post-menopausal women. Compared with leiomyomas, smooth muscle tumors of uncertain malignant potential and leiomyosarcomas had similar ultrasound features such as absence of normal myometrium, multilocular appearance, hyper-echogenicity in case of uniform echogenicity, absence of posterior shadows, echogenic areas, and hyperechoic rim. Leiomyosarcomas were larger, had more cystic areas, and were associated with a higher prevalence of pelvic free fluid. Smooth muscle tumors of uncertain malignant potential were characterized by a higher frequency of International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) type 6-7, the absence of internal shadows, and, in the case of cystic area, the presence of a regular internal wall. Tumor outline varied among the three histological types. A color score of 1 was typical of leiomyoma, a color score 2 was mainly observed in leiomyomas and smooth muscle tumors of uncertain malignant potential, a color score 3 did not differ among the tumors, while a color of score 4 was related to leiomyosarcomas. When combining color scores 3 and 4, leiomyosarcomas and smooth muscle tumors of uncertain malignant potential showed a high percentage of both circumferential and intra-lesional vascularization. A cooked appearance was not statistically different among the tumors.

CONCLUSIONS

Based on our findings, specific ultrasonographic features as well as age and menopausal status are associated with different uterine smooth muscle tumor types. Integration of these data can help the pre-operative assessment of these lesions for proper management.

Survivin-Sodium Iodide Symporter Reporter as a Non-Invasive Diagnostic Marker to Differentiate Uterine Leiomyosarcoma from Leiomyoma

Leiomyosarcoma (LMS) has been challenging to diagnose because of limitations in clinical and radiographic predictors, as well as the lack of reliable serum or urinary biomarkers. Most uterine masses consist of benign leiomyoma (LM). However, it is currently a significant challenge in gynecology practice to differentiate LMS from LM. This inability poses grave consequences for patients, leading to a high number of unnecessary hysterectomies, infertility, and other major morbidities and possible mortalities. This study aimed to evaluate the use of Survivin-Sodium iodide symporter (Ad-Sur-NIS) as a reporter gene biomarker to differentiate malignant LMS from benign LM by using an F18-NaBF4 PET/CT scan. The PET/CT scan images showed a significantly increased radiotracer uptake and a decreased radiotracer decay attributable to the higher abundance of Ad-Sur-NIS in the LMS tumors compared to LM (p < 0.05). An excellent safety profile was observed, with no pathological or metabolic differences detected in Ad-Sur-NIS-treated animal versus the vehicle control. Ad-Sur-NIS as a PET scan reporter is a promising imaging biomarker that can differentiate uterine LMS from LM using F18-NaBF4 as a radiotracer. As a new diagnostic method, the F18 NaBF4 PET/CT scan can provide a much-needed tool in clinical practices to effectively triage women with suspicious uterine masses and avoid unnecessary invasive interventions.

A human-interpretable machine learning pipeline based on ultrasound to support leiomyosarcoma diagnosis

The preoperative evaluation of myometrial tumors is essential to avoid delayed treatment and to establish the appropriate surgical approach. Specifically, the differential diagnosis of leiomyosarcoma (LMS) is particularly challenging due to the overlapping of clinical, laboratory and ultrasound features between fibroids and LMS. In this work, we present a human-interpretable machine learning (ML) pipeline to support the preoperative differential diagnosis of LMS from leiomyomas, based on both clinical data and gynecological ultrasound assessment of 68 patients (8 with LMS diagnosis). The pipeline provides the following novel contributions: (i) end-users have been involved both in the definition of the ML tasks and in the evaluation of the overall approach; (ii) clinical specialists get a full understanding of both the decision-making mechanisms of the ML algorithms and the impact of the features on each automatic decision. Moreover, the proposed pipeline addresses some of the problems concerning both the imbalance of the two classes by analyzing and selecting the best combination of the synthetic oversampling strategy of the minority class and the classification algorithm among different choices, and the explainability of the features at global and local levels. The results show very high performance of the best strategy (AUC = 0.99, F1 = 0.87) and the strong and stable impact of two ultrasound-based features (i.e., tumor borders and consistency of the lesions). Furthermore, the SHAP algorithm was exploited to quantify the impact of the features at the local level and a specific module was developed to provide a template-based natural language (NL) translation of the explanations for enhancing their interpretability and fostering the use of ML in the clinical setting.

Pelvic leiomyoma associated with intermediate risk prostate cancer: A case report

Pelvic leiomyoma in male patients is a very rare occurrence and its association with prostate cancer is a unique clinical situation. This study reports a new case of a 9 cm pelvic Leiomyoma associated with intermediate-risk localized prostate cancer in a 68-year-old patient. The leiomyoma was discovered fortuitously after an MRI was performed in the context of prostate cancer work-up. Surgical excision of the pelvic mass along with a radical prostatectomy were performed and the diagnosis of leiomyoma was confirmed by histopathology.

Smooth Muscle Tumors of the Uterus at MRI: Focus on Leiomyomas and FIGO Classification

Leiomyomas are smooth muscle tumors of the uterus and are the most common uterine neoplasm. Although leiomyomas are usually asymptomatic, they can manifest with symptoms such as pain or uterine bleeding. Leiomyomas are classified on the basis of their anatomic location and morphology. Localization of leiomyomas relative to the endometrium, myometrium, and uterine serosa with use of the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) classification system is helpful for guiding management in symptomatic patients. The FIGO system is a practical and universally accepted approach for classifying leiomyomas to guide radiologists and clinicians in deciding management. The MRI appearance of conventional leiomyomas is related to their tissue contents of smooth muscle and fibrous tissue and is well established. The MRI features of some leiomyoma subtypes and forms of degeneration also have been described. Other smooth muscle tumors of the uterus recognized in the 2020 World Health Organization classification system include intravenous leiomyomatosis, smooth muscle tumors of uncertain malignant potential, and metastasizing leiomyoma. At the far end of the spectrum are leiomyosarcomas, which are frankly malignant and therefore must be managed accordingly. Although MRI features that suggest a diagnosis of leiomyosarcoma have been proposed, these features overlap with those of some leiomyoma subtypes and degeneration. ^© RSNA, 2023 See the invited commentary by Fennessy and Gargiulo in this issue. Online supplemental material and the slide presentation from the RSNA Annual Meeting are available for this article. Quiz questions for this article are available through the Online Learning Center.

High negative prediction for the Basel sarcoma score: Sonographic assessment of features suspicious of uterine sarcoma

INTRODUCTION

In the management of uterine myomas, laparoscopic surgery with morcellation enables a minimal invasive procedure. Cases of unsuspected uterine sarcoma dissemination have been reported and led to regulative restrictions. To help to distinguish preoperatively myomas from sarcomas, we assessed the value of six sonographic criteria (Basel Sarcoma Score, BSS) in a prospective outpatient cohort of consecutive patients with uterine masses.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

We prospectively evaluated all patients presenting with myoma-like masses planned for surgery with standardized ultrasound examination. BSS including the following criteria was investigated: rapid growth in past three months, high blood flow, atypical growth, irregular lining, central necrosis and oval solitary lesion. For each criterion, a score 0/1 was given. BSS (0-6) equals the sum of all given scores. Histological diagnosis was used as reference.

RESULTS

Among 545 patients, 522 had the final diagnosis of myoma, 16 had peritoneal masses with sarcomatous components (PMSC), and seven had other malignancies. Median BSS for PMSC was 2.5 (range: 0-4) vs 0 for myomas (range: 0-3). The most common sonographic criteria leading to a false positive score in myomas were rapid growth in past three months and high blood flow. For the detection of sarcomatous masses with BSS threshold of >1, sensitivity was 93.8%, specificity 97.9%, and positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV) were 57.7% and 99.8%, respectively (AUC 0.95).

CONCLUSION

BSS can help distinguishing between myomas and sarcomatous masses, with high NPV. Caution is required when >1 criterion is present. As a simple tool, it could easily be integrated into routine myoma sonographic examination and help develop standardized assessment of uterine masses for better preoperative triage.

Not All Leiomyosarcomas Are the Same: How to Best Classify LMS

OPINION STATEMENT

Leiomyosarcoma arises from smooth muscle and represents one of the most common soft tissue sarcomas. Despite aggressive multimodality care, over half of the patients will ultimately develop metastatic and incurable disease with a median survival of 12-18 months. At present, there is no standard system to classify leiomyosarcoma, which itself is a heterogeneous disease. Classification by tumor location is the most simplistic approach and is most frequently utilized in clinical practice. Tumor location impacts diagnosis (recognition pre-operatively versus at the time of surgery) as well as treatment (ability to completely resect with clear margins with minimal morbidity). While tumor location can impact prognosis, for example, extremity tumors would generally be considered as lower risk than inferior vena cava tumors, leiomyosarcoma can exhibit a heterogeneous behavior irrespective of tumor location. Specifically, some patients have rapidly progressing disease despite aggressive chemotherapy, while others display a more indolent course even in the metastatic setting. The pathogenic drivers of the heterogeneity observed in tumor behavior are not well understood. As we learn more about the molecular composition of leiomyosarcoma, various classification groups have been proposed as discussed here. Ultimately, it is unlikely that one variable will be adequate for tumor classification, and a combination of location and molecular composition will be necessary to develop appropriate risk stratification nomograms and treatment strategies.

Overlap of Suspicious and Non-Suspicious Features in the Ultrasound Evaluations of Leiomyosarcoma: A Single-Center Experience

Leiomyosarcoma (LMS) is a rare type of mesenchymal tumor. Suspecting LMS before surgery is crucial for proper patient management. Ultrasound is the primary method for assessing myometrial lesions. The overlapping of clinical, laboratory, as well as ultrasound features between fibroids and LMS makes differential diagnosis difficult. We report our single-center experience in ultrasound imaging assessment of LMS patients, highlighting that misleading findings such as shadowing and absent or minimal vascularization may also occur in LMS. To avoid mistakes, a comprehensive evaluation of potentially overlapping ultrasound features is necessary in preoperative ultrasound evaluations of all myometrial tumors.

How Frequently Benign Uterine Myomas Appear Suspicious for Sarcoma as Assessed by Transvaginal Ultrasound?

BACKGROUND

Uterine myomas may resemble uterine sarcomas in some cases. However, the rate of benign myomas appearing as sarcomas at an ultrasound examination is not known. The objective of this study is to determine the percentage of benign myomas that appear suspicious for uterine sarcoma on ultrasound examination. This is a prospective observational multicenter study (June 2019-December 2021) comprising a consecutive series of patients with histologically proven uterine myoma after hysterectomy or myomectomy who underwent transvaginal and/or transabdominal ultrasound prior to surgery. All ultrasound examinations were performed by expert examiners. MUSA criteria were used to describe the lesions (1). Suspicion of sarcoma was established when three or more sonographic features, described by Ludovisi et al. as "frequently seen in uterine sarcoma", were present (2). These features are no visible myometrium, irregular cystic areas, non-uniform echogenicity, irregular contour, "cooked" appearance, and a Doppler color score of 3-4. In addition, the examiners had to classify the lesion as suspicious based on her/his impression, independent of the number of features present. Eight hundred and ten women were included. The median maximum diameter of the myomas was 58.7 mm (range: 10.0-263.0 mm). Three hundred and forty-nine (43.1%) of the patients had more than one myoma. Using the criterion of >3 suspicious features, 40 (4.9%) of the myomas had suspicious appearance. By subjective impression, the examiners considered 40 (4.9%) cases suspicious. The cases were not exactly the same. We conclude that approximately 5% of benign uterine myomas may exhibit sonographic suspicion of sarcoma. Although it is a small percentage, it is not negligible.

Subtotal hysterectomy reviewed: a stable or aperture for stump cervical malignancy. A referral hospital experience

Introduction

To review the malignant potential of the stump after subtotal abdominal hysterectomy. Material and methods: Thirty-three patients with stump malignancy were diagnosed and treated between January 2018 and January 2022. All patients primarily underwent subtotal hysterectomy (STH) outside our hospital due to different indications, most of which seemed non-convincing. Upon presentation, they were evaluated properly and offered the best management plan.

Results

The presenting symptoms were abnormal histopathology report in 8 patients (24.24%), abnormal bleeding in 7 patients (21.21%), and postcoital bleeding and abnormal Pap smear in 6 patients (18.18%). The primary site of malignancy was endometrial in 17 patients (51.51%), on top of fibroid in 6 patients (18.18%), and cervical in 5 patients (15.15%). Eighteen patients (54.54%) underwent proper surgery, 9 patients (27.277%) were referred for chemoradiation, and 6 patients (18.18%) were candidates for palliative therapy.

Conclusions

Stump cancer cases show a worse stage silhouette compared with cancer cases in intact uteruses. The high prevalence of cervical stump problems should be taken into account before a change in surgical approach from total to STH is deemed possible. Further prospective studies with prolonged follow-up periods are needed to evaluate the risks and benefits of retaining the cervix at hysterectomy. Subtotal hysterectomy is easier, does not require distinct skills that lead to experience and follow-up, and must be limited to the narrowest limits of practice, provided that the woman knows that there are no health benefits to keeping the cervix in place.