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Updated: Jul 19, 2026
An Orthotopic Endometrial Cancer Model with Retroperitoneal Lymphadenopathy Made From In Vivo Propagated and Cultured VX2 Cells
Published on: September 12, 2019
Retroperitoneal lymphangioleiomyoma mimicking ovarian tumor emerging after tamoxifen therapy
David Atallah1, Antoine Checrallah, Roman Rouzier
1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hôtel Dieu de France, Beirut, Lebanon. davidatallah@yahoo.com
Background:
Lymphangioleiomyomas are lymphatic masses that can be associated with lymphangioleiomyomatosis. They are usually associated with pulmonary involvement.
Case:
A 44-year-old premenopausal woman with breast cancer treated with adjuvant tamoxifen presented with abdominal distension. A thoraco-abdominopelvic enhanced computed tomography scan showed a 22 x 21 x 12 cm well-encapsulated, complex pelvic mass. An ovarian cystadenocarcinoma was suspected. Surgery revealed a retroperitoneal mass that was removed with uterus and both adnexae. Histological and immunohistochemical studies diagnosed a lymphangioleiomyoma. Estrogen and progesterone receptors were positive on smooth muscle cells and human melanoma black 45 was negative.
Conclusion:
Isolated retroperitoneal lymphangioleiomyoma is rare and difficult to detect in the absence of pulmonary lymphangioleiomyomatosis. We speculate that tamoxifen treatment may play a role in the development of this benign tumor.
