Smooth muscle sarcomas can originate anywhere in your body as smooth muscles are present throughout the body. Smooth muscles are involuntary muscles that perform a reactive role. This means that the brain does not directly control their functioning.
For example, the smooth muscle lining the walls of your digestive tract automatically contracts to aid in digestion. Smooth muscles are found in the posterior part of the esophagus, stomach, intestine, blood vessels, eye's iris, and skin's dermis.
At Sarcoma Oncology Center, we offer a multi-modal and personalized treatment for smooth muscle sarcomas based on your condition.
Smooth muscle sarcomas are a rare type of soft tissue sarcoma that usually affects the young population but may also be present less frequently in children.
Tumors in smooth muscles can develop anywhere in your body. Different types of smooth muscle sarcomas have been identified, depending on the region of tumor occurrence and whether they are benign or malignant.
A benign tumor can become quite large in size but stays at the tumor site and does not invade or spread to nearby tissues or other parts of the body. Whereas, malignant tumors grow faster and spread to other body parts.
Following are major types of smooth muscle sarcomas.
Leiomyosarcoma is a malignant type of smooth muscle sarcoma that arises almost anywhere in the body but is most common in the uterus and abdomen. It is more commonly diagnosed in adults than in children, with relatively higher occurrence in women. Leiomyosarcoma of the uterus affects about 6 per 1 million people in the United States annually.
At Sarcoma Oncology Center, we collaborate with skilled surgeons, pathologists, and radiation oncologists from prominent institutions to design personalized multimodal treatment plans for leiomyosarcoma.
Leiomyoma, also known as uterine fibroids, is a benign smooth muscle tumor commonly occurring in premenopausal women, who are usually able to get pregnant and give birth. The tumor originates in the smooth muscles of the uterus from a single cell.
Leiomyoma affects an estimated 11 million women in the United States annually. Although the tumor is typically painless, it might cause bleeding and pain if the tumor starts pressing on other internal organs.
Heavy bleeding may result in anemia, meaning that you do not have enough red blood cells or hemoglobin to carry oxygen to the body's tissues.
The chance of recovery depends on individual factors. Many people remain asymptomatic for many years, while others may experience recurrent fibroids requiring multiple surgeries. The other treatments for leiomyoma include hormone therapy and chemotherapy.
Angioleiomyoma is a rare and benign smooth muscle tumor that often occurs in extremities, such as near the foot and ankle. It arises from subcutaneous blood vessels. As the tumor is a slow-growing mass, it can remain asymptomatic. This type of smooth muscle tumor is hard to diagnose.
The cause of smooth muscle sarcoma is not certain. However, researchers believe it is likely a result of genetic predisposition and environmental factors.
The symptoms of smooth muscle sarcoma depend on where the tumor starts in the body. Symptoms may vary with the tumor's location, type, and stage.
You may not feel any symptoms in the early stages, but as it grows and spreads, you may feel lumps or pain. However, some patients may not experience any noticeable symptoms at all.
A painless lump could form where the tumor is growing and eventually cause pain if the mass is pressing on a nerve or muscle. Consult your healthcare provider if you experience pain or any signs of an abnormal lump.
Since smooth muscle sarcomas can occur anywhere in your body, it can be difficult to diagnose at an early stage. If a smooth muscle sarcoma is present in your uterus, it can be detected during a comprehensive physical examination.
A pelvic sonogram is a cost-effective method to find the presence of any tumor in your uterus.
At Sarcoma Oncology Center, our oncologist may suggest the following tests for the diagnosis of smooth muscle sarcomas:
Treatment options for smooth muscle sarcomas are determined based on:
When creating a treatment plan, our team will also consider your overall health and condition of the sarcoma.
Treatment options for smooth muscle sarcomas may include combining traditional methods like surgery and radiation with innovative clinical trials and targeted therapy.
Smooth muscle sarcomas can develop anywhere in the body and it can be difficult to diagnose at an early stage. Therefore, if you experience any symptoms of smooth muscle sarcoma, please consult our health professionals immediately.
At our office in Santa Monica, we design personalized and innovative plans for treating smooth muscle sarcomas.
To schedule a consultation, please call us at 310-552-9999 or request an appointment online.
