Gastrointestinal leiomyosarcoma--unusual sites: esophagus, colon and porta hepatis

This paper is based on a retrospective analysis of the radiologic findings of 6 newly proven cases of primary gastrointestinal leiomyosarcomas located in unusual sites. The radiographic and angiographic features of esophageal, colonic, and porta hepatis leiomyosarcomas are described and illustrated. General background information together with a brief review of the literature regarding these lesions are provided. The difficulties encountered in the preoperative diagnosis are explained by the protean and non-specific clinical and radiographic features of many of these tumors. In addition, although myomatous tumors of the liver and porta hepatis are angiographically hypervascular, similar tumors of the colon are slight to moderately vascular, and tumors of the esophagus are avascular.