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Leiomyoma
 
 
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A leiomyoma (plural is 'leiomyomata') is a benign
Benign

A benign tumor is a tumor that lacks all three of the malignant properties of a cancer. Thus, by definition, a benign tumor does not grow in an unlimited, aggressive manner, does not invade surrounding tissue , and does not metastasize....
 smooth muscle
Smooth muscle

Smooth muscle is a type of non-striated muscle, found within the tunica media layer of large and small arteries and veins, the urinary bladder, uterus, male and female reproductive tracts, gastrointestinal tract, respiratory tract, the ciliary muscle, and iris of the eye....
 neoplasm that is not premalignant. They can occur in any organ, but the most common forms occur in the uterus
Uterus

The uterus is a major female hormone-responsive reproductive sex organ of most mammals, including humans. It is within the uterus that the fetus develops during gestation....
, small bowel and the esophagus
Esophagus

The esophagus or oesophagus , sometimes known as the gullet, is an Organ in vertebrates which consists of a Muscle tube through which food passes from the pharynx to the stomach....
.


ine fibroids are leiomyomata of the uterine
Uterus

The uterus is a major female hormone-responsive reproductive sex organ of most mammals, including humans. It is within the uterus that the fetus develops during gestation....
 smooth muscle.






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Encyclopedia


A leiomyoma (plural is 'leiomyomata') is a benign
Benign

A benign tumor is a tumor that lacks all three of the malignant properties of a cancer. Thus, by definition, a benign tumor does not grow in an unlimited, aggressive manner, does not invade surrounding tissue , and does not metastasize....
 smooth muscle
Smooth muscle

Smooth muscle is a type of non-striated muscle, found within the tunica media layer of large and small arteries and veins, the urinary bladder, uterus, male and female reproductive tracts, gastrointestinal tract, respiratory tract, the ciliary muscle, and iris of the eye....
 neoplasm that is not premalignant. They can occur in any organ, but the most common forms occur in the uterus
Uterus

The uterus is a major female hormone-responsive reproductive sex organ of most mammals, including humans. It is within the uterus that the fetus develops during gestation....
, small bowel and the esophagus
Esophagus

The esophagus or oesophagus , sometimes known as the gullet, is an Organ in vertebrates which consists of a Muscle tube through which food passes from the pharynx to the stomach....
.

Etymology

  • Greek:
    • leios = smooth
      Smooth

      Smooth could mean many things, including:* Draught beer served with nitrogen.* Smooth * Smooth function, a function that is infinitely differentiable, used in calculus and topology....
    • muV = (myo
      Myo

      *Myo is a character from...
      ) mouse
      Mouse

      A mouse is a small animal that belongs to one of numerous species of rodents. The best known mouse species is the House Mouse . It is also a popular pet....
       or muscle
      MUSCLE

      MUSCLE is public domain, multiple sequence alignment software for protein and nucleotide sequences.MUSCLE is integrated into UGENE bioinformatics tool as a plugin....
    • oma = tumor
      Tumor

      A tumor or tumour is the name for a swelling or lesion formed by an abnormal growth of cells . Tumor is not synonymous with cancer. A tumor can be Benign neoplasm, Carcinoma in situ or malignant, whereas cancer is by definition malignant....
  • Latin:
    • Fibra = fiber
      Fiber

      Fiber or fibre is a class of materials that are continuous filaments or are in discrete elongated pieces, similar to lengths of yarn. They are very important in the biology of both plants and animals, for holding tissue s together....


Leiomyoma

Uterine leiomyomata

Uterine fibroids are leiomyomata of the uterine
Uterus

The uterus is a major female hormone-responsive reproductive sex organ of most mammals, including humans. It is within the uterus that the fetus develops during gestation....
 smooth muscle. As other leiomyomata, they are benign
Benign

A benign tumor is a tumor that lacks all three of the malignant properties of a cancer. Thus, by definition, a benign tumor does not grow in an unlimited, aggressive manner, does not invade surrounding tissue , and does not metastasize....
, but may lead to excessive menstrual bleeding (menorrhagia
Menorrhagia

Menorrhagia is an abnormally heavy and prolonged menstruation at regular intervals. Causes may be due to abnormal blood clotting, disruption of normal hormonal regulation of periods or disorders of the endometrium lining of the uterus....
), often cause anemia
Anemia

Anemia or an?mia/anaemia is defined as a qualitative or quantitative deficiency of hemoglobin, a protein found inside red blood cells ....
 and may lead to infertility
Infertility

Infertility primarily refers to the biological inability of a person to contribute to fertilization. Infertility may also refer to the state of a woman who is unable to carry a pregnancy to full term....
. Enucleation is removal of fibroids without removing the uterus (hysterectomy
Hysterectomy

A hysterectomy is the surgery removal of the uterus, usually performed by a gynaecology. Hysterectomy may be total or partial . It is the most commonly performed gynecological surgical procedure....
), which is also commonly performed. Laser
Laser

A laser is a device that emits light through a process called stimulated emission. The term laser is an acronym for light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation....
 surgery (called myolysis) is increasingly used, and provides a viable alternative to surgery.

Uterine leiomyomas originate in the myometrium
Myometrium

The myometrium is the middle layer of the uterus wall consisting of smooth muscle cells and supporting stromal and vascular tissue.The inner layer of the uterine wall is the endometrium or uterine lining, and the outer layer the serosa or perimetrium....
 and are classified by location:
  • Submucosal
    Submucosal

    Submucosal can refer to:* Submucous plexus* Submucosa...
     – lie just beneath
    Beneath

    Beneath is a thriller-horror film co-produced in a first time partnership between Paramount Classics and MTV Films . The film is directed by the newcomer Dagen Merrill, who co-wrote the script with Kevin Burke, and the list of producers include Sean Covel and Chris Wyatt , as well as Troy Craig Poon....
     the endometrium
    Endometrium

    The endometrium is the inner membrane of the mammalian uterus....
    .
  • Intramural – lie within the uterine wall
    Wall

    A wall is a usually solid structure that defines and sometimes protects an area. Most commonly, a wall delineates a building and supports its superstructure, separates space in buildings into Room s, or protects or delineates a space in the open air....
    .
  • Subserosal – lie at the serosal surface of the uterus or may bulge
    Bulge

    A bulge is something which sticks out from a surface.Bulge may also refer to:*A localized discontinuity in an extended military line, for example, the Battle of the Bulge, a major World War II battle...
     out from the myometrium
    Myometrium

    The myometrium is the middle layer of the uterus wall consisting of smooth muscle cells and supporting stromal and vascular tissue.The inner layer of the uterine wall is the endometrium or uterine lining, and the outer layer the serosa or perimetrium....
     and can become pedunculated
    Pedunculated

    Pedunculated is a medical term that is used to describe having or supported on a peduncle, which is a stalk. A pedunculated polyp is a common form of polyp....
    .


Estrogen and progesterone usually stimulate their growth, and hormone suppression may hence decrease their size.

Esophageal

They are also the most common benign
Benign

A benign tumor is a tumor that lacks all three of the malignant properties of a cancer. Thus, by definition, a benign tumor does not grow in an unlimited, aggressive manner, does not invade surrounding tissue , and does not metastasize....
 esophageal
Esophagus

The esophagus or oesophagus , sometimes known as the gullet, is an Organ in vertebrates which consists of a Muscle tube through which food passes from the pharynx to the stomach....
 tumour, though this accounts for less than 1% of esophageal neoplasms. The remainder consists mainly of carcinomas. Although the vast majority of benign esophageal tumors are clinically silent and go undetected, large or strategically located tumors may become symptomatic.

Cutaneous

Leiomyomas of the skin are generally (1) acquired, and (2) divided into several categories:

  • Solitary cutaneous leiomyoma
    Solitary cutaneous leiomyoma

    Solitary cutaneous leiomyoma typically presents as a deeply circumscribed, freely movable, rounded nodule ranging from 2 to 15mm in diameter, with overlying skin that may have a reddish or violaceous tint....
  • Multiple cutaneous (or pilar) leiomyomas
    Multiple cutaneous leiomyoma

    Multiple cutaneous leiomyomas arise from the arrectores pilorum muscles, and are made up of a poorly circumscribed proliferation of haphazardly arranged smooth muscle fibers located in the dermis that appear to infiltrate the surrounding tissue and may extend into the subcutis....
     arising from the arrectores pilorum muscles
  • Angioleiomyomas
    Angioleiomyoma

    Angioleiomyoma of the skin is thought to arise from vascular smooth muscle, and is generally acquired....
     (Vascular leiomyomas) that are thought to arise from vascular smooth muscle
  • Dartoic (or genital) leiomyomas
    Genital leiomyoma

    Genital leiomyomas originate in the dartos muscles of the genitalia, areola, and nipple.See also*Skin lesion*LeiomyomaReferences...
     originating in the dartos muscles of the genitalia, areola, and nipple
  • Angiolipoleiomyoma
    Angiolipoleiomyoma

    Angiolipoleiomyoma is an acquired, solitary, asymptomatic acral nodule, characterized histologically by well-circumscribed subcutaneous tumors composed of smooth muscle cells, blood vessels, connective tissue, and fat....


Leiomyoma of jejunum

Leiomyoma is the most common benign tumor of small bowel. Approximately 50% of cases are found in the jejunum, followed by the ileum in 31% of cases. Almost one half of all lesions are less than 5 centimeters.

Treatment

Diagnosis depends on position of the myomas. Traditional Transabdominal or Transvaginal ultrasonogram can detect large submucosal and transmural myomas. For submucosal myomas saline infusion sonography is the best.

Medical treatment

GnRH analogues for 3-6 months are used to reduce the size of the myomas. It usually reduces the size by 60% to 70%, but once the medication is stopped the myomas will grow back.

Surgical treatment

Myomectomy
Myomectomy

Myomectomy refers to the surgical removal of uterine fibroids, also known as myomas. In contrast to a hysterectomy the uterus remains preserved and the woman retains her reproductive potential....
 is a choice to remove myomas. It is usually done when the client wants to preserve their fertility. This can be performed with either traditional surgery or through laparoscopy.

Total Abdominal or Vaginal hysterectomy
Hysterectomy

A hysterectomy is the surgery removal of the uterus, usually performed by a gynaecology. Hysterectomy may be total or partial . It is the most commonly performed gynecological surgical procedure....
 with Bilateral Salpingo-oophorectomy is another treatment.

Additional images


See also

  • myosarcoma
    Myosarcoma

    Myosarcoma is a malignant muscle tumor.Leiomyosarcoma refers to sarcoma of smooth muscle, and rhabdomyosarcoma refers to sarcoma of striated muscle. However, the term myosarcoma itself still appears in the literature....


External links


  • humpath (Pathology images)
  • .