Uterine Sarcoma
Uterine sarcomas
Uterine sarcomas are a group of rare cancers that develop from the musclar wall of the uterus, diagnosed in about 5,000 American women per year. There are a several different cell types, with uterine leiomyosarcoma being the most common. Most of the uterine sarcomas behave aggressively, with relatively early metastasis through the blood stream and poor prognosis. For example, with uterine leiomyosarcoma, only about 14% of patients survive for 5 years from diagnosis if there is already spread of the cancer outside the uterus at the time of diagnosis.
Often uterine sarcomas are not diagnosed until women undergo hysterectomy. In many cases, uterine sarcomas are mistaken for benign fibroids prior to surgery and women have surgical procedures based on a diagnosis of benign fibroids, with the cancer diagnosis being an unexpected finding reported by pathology after the surgery is completed.
The most effective treatment for uterine sarcomas is surgery to remove the sarcoma, ideally to remove all visible disease before the sarcoma has spread beyond the uterus. Most women need to undergo total hysterectomy, with details of the surgery individualized based on the findings at surgery and patient age/menopause status. Among women with sarcoma confined to the uterus at the time of surgery, cell type and size of the cancer are the most important prognostic factors. If uterine sarcoma spreads beyond the uterus before surgery or recurs after surgery, systemic medical treatment (example: chemotherapy) is needed.
Like endometrial cancers, uterine sarcoma should be treated with careful minimally invasive surgery. Even in cases of larger uterine tumors known or suspected to sarcoma, most women can safely undergo outpatient minimally invasive surgery using modern surgical techniques for dissection and contained tissue extraction.
Specialized Care
At Southland Uro+Gynecology, LLC, Dr. Seagle routinely evaluates and manages women with abnormal uterine masses that may be an atypical fibroid presentation or a uterine sarcoma. Greater than 99% of procedures are performed as outpatient surgery. Care is individualized based on the needs of each woman and, when needed, care is coordinated with each woman's local or preferred cancer center specialists, such as Medical Oncology. When rarely needed or in the best interest of the patient, patients are referred to academic centers for Gynecologic Oncology (Medical College of Georiga or Emory) depending on their clinical trial eligibility and/or unusual circumstances. Most women with gynecologic cancer can receive outstanding care for their cancer at home or closer to home in South Georgia, including access to individualized use of newer treatments.
Learn more from the National Cancer Institute
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