Emergency Hysterectomy in a Hemodynamically Unstable Patient: A Case of Uterine Leiomyosarcoma

Abnormal uterine bleeding (AUB) is a common gynecological complaint in reproductive aged women. In this case report, we present a case of emergency total hysterectomy performed in a hemodynamically unstable patient due to AUB. Based on pelvic ultrasound (US) and CT scan along with the prevalence of uterine smooth muscle tumors, leiomyomatous uterus was the most likely preoperative diagnosis. The histological examination of the surgical specimen revealed a leiomyosarcoma with coagulative necrosis, cellularity, mitotic index greater than 20 mitotic figures per 10 high-power-fields, and local invasion of the myometrium at the tumor's stalk. A positron emission tomography (PET) scan was performed postoperatively. The results revealed multiple hypermetabolic secondary lesions at the lungs bilaterally, liver, vaginal cuff, peritoneal involvement, and a small lesion at the left rectus femoris muscle. Thus, tumor was classified as stage IVB uterine leiomyosarcoma according to the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) staging. The patient was referred to an oncology center for chemotherapy and hormonal therapy. Uterine leiomyosarcomas are the most common uterine sarcomas, but remain a rare entity among uterine smooth muscle tumors. Notably, the US imaging of both leiomyosarcomas and other uterine smooth muscle tumors are practically indistinguishable. Thus, diagnosis is difficult to be established prior to surgical treatment. Overall, prognosis in case of leiomyosarcoma is poor, and tumor stage III/IV, tumor size greater than 10 cm, mitotic index greater than or equal to 20 mitotic figures per 10 high-power-fields, and reactive nuclei for Ki67 more than or equal to 10% are associated with shorter survival period. Reliable risk scores to stratify the risk of malignancy in case of leiomyomatous uterus and guide the timing of surgical treatment are totally lacking, and, thus, hindering earlier diagnosis of leiomyosarcoma and improved prognosis.