Cotyledonoid dissecting leiomyoma of the uterus

Cotyledonoid dissecting leiomyoma with peritoneal dissemination

Cotyledonoid dissecting leiomyoma (CDL) is a rare benign uterine leiomyoma that macroscopically shows multinodular placenta-like growth. Its border with the myometrial layer is unclear, making it clinically difficult to differentiate from uterine sarcoma. CDL is often misdiagnosed. We report a case of CDL in which a subserosal myoma was suspected preoperatively and an abdominal myomectomy was performed. However, due to intraoperative findings and intraoperative rapid histopathological diagnosis, the procedure was changed to total hysterectomy. Peritoneal dissemination had also occurred and was resected simultaneously. It has been reported that CDL is generally a disease with good prognosis and that fertility preservation may be considered depending on the case. On the other hand, some cases of large tumours have caused peritoneal dissemination. We did a literature review of CDL and compared a group with peritoneal dissemination who underwent disseminated resection simultaneously and a group without peritoneal dissemination. We found that the tumour diameter was significantly greater in the peritoneal dissemination group.

Cotyledonoid dissecting leiomyoma of the uterus: a case report and review of the literature

BACKGROUND

Cotyledonoid dissecting leiomyoma, also named Sternberg tumor, is a rare variant of uterine leiomyoma. The tumor is benign, but the appearance and growth pattern are unusual and alarming. In this article, we report a case of cotyledonoid dissecting leiomyoma in a 55-year-old woman as well as review relevant literature.

CASE PRESENTATION

We report a case of cotyledonoid dissecting leiomyoma in a 55-year-old Iranian woman who presented with vaginal bleeding 4 months after menopause. Ultrasound showed two heterogeneous hypoechoic masses on the uterine fundus. Total abdominal hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy were performed for the patient. Macroscopically, a large heterogeneous intramural mass (140 mm × 120 mm × 120 mm) with a grape-like exophytic mass on the fundus was observed. Her health status was good after surgery, and the patient was discharged from the hospital after 2 days. In a 1-year follow-up period, no recurrence or any other related complications were found.

CONCLUSION

It is important to recognize this rare variant of leiomyoma to prevent aggressive and inappropriate overdiagnosis and overtreatment. It is suggested to try to use frozen sections for better diagnosis and to preserve fertility in young women suffering from this lesion.

Massive cotyledenoid leiomyoma treated with uterine-conserving surgery

Objective

To describe and illustrate a massive cotyledenoid leiomyoma treated with uterine-conserving surgery.

Design

Case report.

Setting

Medical center.

Patient(s)

A 39-year-old woman with a large abdominal mass and a magnetic resonance imaging scan showing a 28-cm multi-lobulated mass.

Intervention(s)

Laparotomy and myomectomy.

Main Outcome Measure(s)

Recurrence and need for repeat surgery.

Result(s)

No recurrence at 8 years of follow-up.

Conclusion(s)

Cotyledonoid leiomyomas are rare. These benign tumors may be suspected preoperatively based on MRI appearance. Frozen section suggests a benign process and uterine-conserving surgery may be successfully accomplished.

Laparoscopic management of uncommon benign uterine tumors: a systematic review

The objective of the study was to review the reported cases of uncommon benign uterine tumors managed by laparoscopy. Medline database was searched using predefined search terms linked to atypical leiomyomas, leiomyoma variants, laparoscopy and morcellation. Quality of articles was assessed using Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) critical appraisal tool. Due to heterogeneity in reporting characteristics of the patients, radiological findings, macroscopic findings, histological characteristics and follow-up, we performed a narrative synthesis. We included 109 cases of leiomyoma variants managed by laparoscopy. This stands for an incidence of 2.5% out of all the included laparoscopic management of leiomyomas. These cases were approached as classic leiomyoma. Only after the final histological results that their uncommon aspect was diagnosed. Intra-operatively, the management was similar to that of leiomyoma, with either myomectomy or hysterectomy performed depending on each individual case. Follow-up of these cases was variable: one case (0.9%) recurred as peritoneal sarcoma after 5 years of follow-up. It is important for the gynecologist, radiologist and pathologist to be aware about leiomyoma variants trying to diagnose them preoperatively. Strict follow-up of these cases is mandatory, because of the risk of recurrence and the very low but possible risk of future sarcomas.

Cotyledonoid dissecting leiomyoma of the uterus: A report of four cases and a review of the literature

Cotyledonoid dissecting leiomyoma (CDL), also termed Sternberg tumor, is a variant of uterine leiomyoma that is rarely diagnosed by clinical evaluation. At present, ~43 cases of CDL have been reported in the literature written in the English language. Due to the distinctive grapelike gross appearance of an exophytic mass resembles placental tissue, CDL is often misdiagnosed clinically as an ovarian tumor or uterine sarcoma. Therefore, an awareness of the features of the disease is important to prevent misdiagnosis and overtreatment. The present study reports 4 cases of CDL of the uterus that were treated at the Second Hospital of Jilin University between January 2009 and December 2011. All 4 patients in the current study presented with a palpable asymptomatic pelvic mass, which was detected during physical examinations, and cancer antigen 125 tumor marker levels that were within the normal range. The exploratory laparotomy of the 4 patients revealed lobulated tumors with a grapelike appearance extending from the lateral uterine wall into the ligament or the adjacent tissues. The frozen section and postoperative pathology were diagnosed as CDL. A total abdominal hysterectomy was performed in the first case of a 55-year-old woman that had been in menopause for 7 years. The patient was well and showed no evidence of disease subsequent to 48 months of follow-up. A total abdominal hysterectomy and right salpingo-oophorectomy were performed in the second case of a 43-year-old woman, who was well and showed no evidence of disease subsequent to 26 months of follow-up. A subtotal abdominal hysterectomy and bilateral salpingectomy were performed in the third case of a 37-year-old woman, who was well and showed no evidence of disease subsequent to 27 months of follow-up. A total abdominal hysterectomy and right-salpingectomy were performed with the removal of a retroperitoneal fibroid extension in the fourth case of a 48-year-old woman, who was well and showed no evidence of disease subsequent to 32 months of follow-up.

Terms, definitions and measurements to describe sonographic features of myometrium and uterine masses: a consensus opinion from the Morphological Uterus Sonographic Assessment (MUSA) group

The MUSA (Morphological Uterus Sonographic Assessment) statement is a consensus statement on terms, definitions and measurements that may be used to describe and report the sonographic features of the myometrium using gray-scale sonography, color/power Doppler and three-dimensional ultrasound imaging. The terms and definitions described may form the basis for prospective studies to predict the risk of different myometrial pathologies, based on their ultrasound appearance, and thus should be relevant for the clinician in daily practice and for clinical research. The sonographic features and use of terminology for describing the two most common myometrial lesions (fibroids and adenomyosis) and uterine smooth muscle tumors are presented.

Cotyledonoid dissecting leiomyoma of the uterus: report of two cases

BACKGROUND

Cotyledonoid dissecting leiomyoma (Sternberg tumor) is a rare variant of the uterine smooth muscle tumor. Although this tumor is a benign tumor clinically and pathologically, the appearance and growth pattern is unusual, so it may be misdiagnosed as malignancy.

CASE REPORTS

We report two cases of cotyledonoid dissecting leiomyoma of the uterus that occurred in two 44- and 31-year-old women, respectively. Total hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy were performed in one of the patients, and myomectomy was done in the other one. Macroscopically, both tumors were grape-like exophytic masses resembling placental tissue. The patients were well after surgery, and one patient gave birth. To our knowledge, this is the first case report of a successful delivery after myomectomy of this tumor.

CONCLUSION

To prevent aggressive surgery it is important to recognize that this tumor is a benign and unusual appearing variant of leiomyoma. A fertility-sparing surgical procedure should be considered if the patient wishes to preserve her fertility.

Cotyledonoid dissecting leiomyoma treated by laparoscopic surgery: a case report

A cotyledonoid dissecting leiomyoma is categorized as a leiomyoma with an unusual growth pattern, which is characterized by remarkable extrauterine bulbous growth in continuity with a dissecting myometrial component. A 36-year-old patient was preoperatively diagnosed with a mature cystic teratoma of the left ovary, and according to MRI, the tumor protruded from the uterus into the right broad ligament and was 10 cm in diameter. She underwent laparoscopic surgery to resect ovarian teratoma and the tumor under the right broad ligament. The tumor was almost completely resected and diagnosed as a cotyledonoid dissecting leiomyoma based on intraoperative and pathological findings. Recurrence was not seen for 26 months postoperatively in our case. Gross specimens are often mistaken for malignant lesions, but this was a benign disease. Even if some remnants of the leiomyoma remained postoperatively, recurrence has never been reported. When a cotyledonoid dissecting leiomyoma is resected laparoscopically, intrapelvic structures around it, such as the ureter, uterine artery, bladder, rectum and external iliac vessels, must be given careful attention.

Cotyledonoid Dissecting Leiomyoma of the Uterus

Cotyledonoid dissecting leiomyoma is a rare benign uterine tumor whose gross and radiological appearance may raise the possibility of a malignancy. The authors summarize herein the clinical, radiological, and pathological features of the 41 previously reported cases. The patients typically presented with menorrhagia or symptoms that were ultimately relatable to the presence of a pelvic mass. The median patient age was 46 years (range 23-73). The average tumor size was 15.4 cm (range 4-41); most were exophytic, multinodular, occasionally cystic masses with a congested, spleen or placenta-like color, protruding over the uterine serosa and, variably, the broad ligaments and adjacent organs. In most cases, the exophytic component was contiguous with the intramural dissecting leiomyomatous components. Histological features suggestive of malignancy, such as cytological atypia, necrosis, or increased mitotic activity were absent. Intravascular growth, as assessed histologically, was present in 20% of reported cases, and this finding is apparently devoid of clinical significance based on limited data. Reported information on radiological features is limited. However, these lesions are typically isointense to myometrium on T1-weighted MRI and are in general less heterogeneous on T2 and postcontrast-imaging than sarcomatous lesions. The tumor may display extension to but not frank invasion of surrounding organs. Ultrasound features are nonspecific. Follow-up information was available in 25 (61%) of 41 reported patients: none experienced a tumor recurrence or metastases during the follow-up period, which ranged from 1 month to 41 years. This affirms the benign nature of this tumor, its alarming gross appearance and growth patterns notwithstanding.