Incidentally Detected Uterine Sarcomas in Patients Operated with Myoma Uteri in a Tertiary Center: Retrospective Cohort Study

ABS TRACT Objective: To estimate the incidence and report the details of hystological, clinical, surgical, and demographic features of incidental uterine sarcomas in patients operated with symptomatic myoma uteri. Material and Methods: We designed a retrospective cohort study at Adnan Menderes University Gynecologic Oncology Department that includes totally 896 patients with symptomatic myoma uteri who were operated as a hysterectomy or myomectomy. Following the definition of inclusion and exlusion criterias, incidental uterine sarcoma cases were detailed as histological subtype, tumor diameter, morcellation or fragmentation status in surgery, adjuvant treatment, recurrences, and survival. All cases were reported as a table without specific statistical analyzes. Results: A total of 775 hysterectomy and 121 myomectomy cases were analyzed. Fourteen sarcoma cases were reported. Two sarcoma cases were excluded due to adnexal sarcoma in final pathology. Ten cases were reported in final pathology incidentally. 7/10 cases were reported as leiomyosarcoma while low grade endometrial stromal sarcoma were reported in 2 cases. While all recurrences were seen in leiomyosarcoma group (5 cases), two of them died with disease-related complications. Conclusion: Studies have shown that uterine sarcomas are malignancies that are extremely rare and cannot be predicted preoperatively. Due to its low incidence and uncertain tumor behavior, in low-risk patients, myomectomy with mechanical or power morcellation is a safe surgical option when it is perfomed without abdominal spillage which can be common in laparoscopic surgery.