Leiomyosarcoma of the rectosigmoid junction, a case report

Area of Science:

• Gastroenterology
• Oncology
• Surgical Pathology

Background:

• Leiomyosarcomas are rare neoplasms of the digestive tract, accounting for approximately 0.1% of presentations.
• These tumors predominantly affect individuals between the fifth and sixth decades of life.

Observation:

• A 61-year-old male presented with melena and constitutional symptoms.
• An extensive rectal mass was identified, posing a diagnostic challenge.

Findings:

• The final diagnosis was leiomyosarcoma of the large intestine, grade II (FNCLCC).
• The rarity of this pathology and its nonspecific clinical, endoscopic, and imaging features complicate differentiation from common rectal tumors like adenocarcinoma and GIST.

Implications:

• Accurate and timely diagnosis of rectal leiomyosarcoma is crucial for appropriate patient management.
• Increased awareness and advanced diagnostic modalities may be necessary to overcome the challenges in differentiating leiomyosarcoma from other rectal neoplasms.