Diagnostic Accuracy of Ultrasound in Differentiation Uterine Leiomyosarcoma from Uterine Leiomyoma: A Systematic Review

Background: Uterine leiomyosarcoma is a rare malignant pathology of smooth muscle of uterus which is mostly asymptomatic with a wide range of late onset of symptoms such as post-menopausal bleeding and severe abdominal pelvic pain and abnormal vaginal discharge. Uterine leiomyosarcoma characteristically has structural and clinical similarities with giant uterine leiomyoma because both originate from the smooth muscle cells of the uterus. The diagnosis of uterine leiomyosarcoma through ultrasound is very different difficult due to indistinguishable sonographic features of uterine leiomyoma and leiomyosarcoma but there are certain sonological features which can prove the reliability of ultrasound as the diagnostic tool for differentiating uterine leiomyosarcoma from uterine leiomyoma. Aim: To access the accuracy of ultrasound in differentiating uterine leiomyosarcoma from uterine leiomyoma. Methods: An electronic database search was performed (PubMed, Science direct, Google Scholar) with the data range from 2000 to 2021. All studies included in the research was in English language. Articles which had descriptive studies related to sonographic features of uterine leiomyosarcoma and uterine leiomyoma. Results: Total 15 articles were found regarding the prevalence, clinical manifestation and sonographic findings of uterine leiomyosarcoma and uterine leiomyoma,10 articles were included in the introduction and technique where as 6 articles were selected for systemic review with the sample size ranging from 20-200 in all different articles and age criteria of the participant in the selected articles was above 40 years with most candidates were investigated in the post menopause period. Conclusion: We identified certain sonographic patterns that can accurately differentiate uterine leiomyoma sarcoma from uterine leiomyoma with moderate sensitivity and specificity.