MR imaging findings of unusual leiomyoma and malignant uterine myometrial tumors: what the radiologist should know

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This paper details MR imaging findings to help radiologists differentiate rare malignant uterine myometrial tumors from unusual degenerated leiomyomas for improved patient management.

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This paper reviews MR imaging features that help differentiate malignant uterine myometrial tumors (including leiomyosarcoma and endometrial stromal sarcoma) and other malignant or unusual entities such as inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor and carcinomas arising in adenomyosis from degenerated or atypical leiomyomas. It focuses on radiologic patterns used in preoperative differentiation, emphasizing the diagnostic importance of recognizing misleading appearances, while also acknowledging that differentiation from benign leiomyoma remains challenging. The authors highlight specific MR pitfalls associated with leiomyoma degeneration and unusual myometrial tumor presentations and describe how radiologic features correlate with pathology in prior literature. Relevance to endometriosis: adenomyosis is explicitly mentioned as a potential site where endometrial carcinoma can arise within uterine myometrial tumors, making the paper relevant to adenomyosis-related malignant transformation in addition to broader uterine myometrial tumor differentiation.

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Abstract

Uterine sarcomas account for less than 1% of gynecological malignancies and 2-5% of all uterine malignancies. Such sarcomas mainly include leiomyosarcoma (LMS) and endometrial stromal sarcoma (ESS). Additionally, inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor (IMT) and endometrial carcinoma arising in adenomyosis can occur as uterine myometrial tumors. Their differentiation from leiomyoma (LM), particularly degenerated LM and the malignant tumors, is challenging, but preoperative diagnosis is very important for the patient's management. We demonstrate the useful and compulsory findings to differentiate between uterine myometrial malignant tumors and degenerated LM with an unusual appearance.
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Abstract

Uterine sarcomas account for less than 1% of gynecological malignancies and 2–5% of all uterine malignancies. Such sarcomas mainly include leiomyosarcoma (LMS) and endometrial stromal sarcoma (ESS). Additionally, inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor (IMT) and endometrial carcinoma arising in adenomyosis can occur as uterine myometrial tumors. Their differentiation from leiomyoma (LM), particularly degenerated LM and the malignant tumors, is challenging, but preoperative diagnosis is very important for the patient’s management. We demonstrate the useful and compulsory findings to differentiate between uterine myometrial malignant tumors and degenerated LM with an unusual appearance. Similar content being viewed by others

References

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Acknowledgements

We thank Hiroaki Komatsu, Shinya Sato, Tetsuro Oishi, for their help in the tumor board, as well as Kanae Nosaka for her assistance with the pathological diagnosis and advices. Funding None. Author information Authors and Affiliations Corresponding author Ethics declarations Conflict of interest None. Ethical statement This article does not contain any studies with human participants or animals performed by any of the authors. Additional information Publisher's Note Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations. About this article Cite this article Fujii, S., Mukuda, N., Ochiai, R. et al. MR imaging findings of unusual leiomyoma and malignant uterine myometrial tumors: what the radiologist should know. Jpn J Radiol 39, 527–539 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11604-021-01096-7 Received: Accepted: Published: Version of record: Issue date: DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11604-021-01096-7

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adenomyosis

MeSH descriptors

Leiomyoma Magnetic Resonance Imaging Uterine Neoplasms Adult Diagnosis, Differential Female Humans Leiomyoma Leiomyoma Magnetic Resonance Imaging Middle Aged Myometrium Myometrium Myometrium Radiologists Uterine Neoplasms Uterine Neoplasms Uterus Uterus Uterus

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