Primary leiomyosarcoma of the small finger treated with ray amputation: A case report

Malignant sarcomas of the upper extremity are rare tumors that can have an overwhelming impact on a patient's function, quality of life, and life expectancy. Rarer still is the malignant tumor of the hand or digits, which represent an incredibly small percentage of upper extremity tumors. This paucity of cases can lead to difficult decision making and treatment options that may not always have clearly established results and outcomes.

In this case, we present a young, otherwise healthy patient that was diagnosed with a primary leiomyosarcoma of the small finger. After her diagnosis, she underwent extensive oncologic workup, and subsequently underwent successful ray amputation with an excellent outcome. She remains disease free.

Leiomyosarcoma is a malignant cancer that can be troublesome to diagnose in the extremities, as it is usually found in the smooth muscle of organs and the pelvis. Local control of the tumor is critical to successful, disease free treatment. Good functional and clinical outcomes can be attained with ray amputation, as seen in this patient.

This case demonstrates a successful treatment approach to the patient with a primary malignant soft tissue sarcoma who was treated with a ray amputation. The clinician and surgeon must maintain a high index of suspicion of soft tissue malignancies, as a prompt diagnosis and treatment is critical to a good outcome and survival.