A Case of Primary Leiomyosarcoma of the Greater Omentum with Rapid Growth

Takashi Kita, Kazutoshi Kotani, Kouji Uno

Department of Surgery, Takinomiya General Hospital

A 66-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital because of abdominal distention and pain. Abdominal computed tomography (CT) and ultrasonography (US) revealed a well-defined heterogeneous giant tumor which compressed the stomach, pancreas and intestines. Neither CT 18 months before admission nor an upper gastrointestinal barium series 4 months before admission revealed abnromal findigns. We suspected that the tumor had enlarged rapidly. Angiography showed a tumor stain and dilatation of the gastroepiploic arteries. The tumor was supplied mainly by the left gastroepiploic arteries. An operation was performed under the diagnosis of an omental malignant tumor. The tumor originated from the greater omentum was resected with a block of the greater omentum. The resected tumor measured 30×25×10 cm and weighed 3600 g. The histological diagnosis was leiomyosarcoma. The tumor was composed of the proliferation of spindle-shaped cells with pleomorphism and active mitoses, which suggested its rapid growth. It is difficult to find an omental tumor in the early stage, because it has no specific signs or typical symptoms earlier. The prognosis is very poor according to the literature. Therefore we suggest more aggressive investigation in cases of omental leiomyosarcoma to improve its curability.

Key words
leiomyosarcoma, greater omentum

Reprint requests
Takashi Kita Department of Surgery, Takinomiya General Hospital
486 Takinomiya, Ryonancho, Ayautagun, Kagawa, 761-23 JAPAN

Accepted
June 12, 1996

To read the PDF file you will need Abobe Reader installed on your computer.