Uterine sarcoma in patients operated on for presumed leiomyoma and rapidly growing leiomyoma

Objective: To determine the incidence of uterine sarcoma in patients operated on for symptomatic uterine leiomyomas or «rapidly growing» leiomyomas. Methods: We reviewed the medical records of 1332 women admitted to either of two community hospitals between 1988-1992 for hysterectomy or myomectomy for uterine leiomyomas. The incidence of leiomyosarcoma, endometrial stromal sarcoma, and mixed mesodermal tumor was calculated. Patient ages, admitting symptoms, and operative and pathologic findings were analyzed. The study included 371 women (28%) operated on for rapidly growing leiomyomas. All patients operated on during the same interval and found to have a uterine sarcoma were reviewed