Information on Leiomyosarcoma

Oct 1
07:18

2008

Juliet Cohen

Juliet Cohen

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Leiomyosarcomas of the digestive system are sometimes confused with gastrointestinal stromal tumours. This is a very important distinction as there is new and helpful treatment for several gastrointestinal stromal tumours known as Gleevac or STI571.

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Leiomyosarcoma [LMS] is a rare cancer. Leiomyosarcoma is a type of sarcoma which is a neoplasm of smooth muscle. It makes up 7% of soft tissue sarcomas. Smooth muscle cells make up the impulsive muscles,Information on Leiomyosarcoma Articles which are found in most parts of the body: in uterus, stomach and intestines, walls of all blood vessels, and skin. It is therefore possible for leiomyosarcomas to look at any site in the body. It is however most commonly found in the stomach, little intestine and retro peritoneum. This area contains the kidneys, pancreas, and part of the aorta and inferior vena cava.

In infant, leiomyosarcoma is the most common type of tumor found in the retroperitoneum.  Most people with leiomyosarcoma will be over the age of 50. The cause of leiomyosarcoma is indicating that inherited alterations may play a role in the formation of all soft tissue sarcomas. A small number of families that contain several members of one generation who have developed soft tissue sarcomas. Exposure to some types of chemicals may increase the risk of a person developing some sarcomas. Certain inherited diseases are also associated with an increased risk of developing soft tissue sarcomas. LMS affects 4 out of 1,000,000 people.

Leiomyosarcomas usually begin as a fairly quickly growing, painless, swelling in the wall of an organ or a blood vessel. The treatment for leiomyosarcoma depends on a number of things including your general health, and the size and position of the tumor within the body. Surgery includes biopsy and broad surgical removal of the entire tumor, along with surrounding healthy muscle and other tissue.

If the tumor is situated in a limb, it may be essential to eliminate all or part of the limb. In most cases limb-sparing surgery is employed to avoid amputation. Radiation and chemotherapy may also be used to treat several forms of leiomyosarcoma. Radiation therapy is sometimes used in conjunction with surgery for leiomyosarcoma, either before or after resection of the tumor. Chemotherapy is also used for some leiomyosarcomas. This may be to try to decrease the chances of the leiomyosarcoma coming back, or to treat a leiomyosarcoma that has spread. Treatment options will vary greatly, depending on your child's individual situation.