A leiomyoma (plural is 'leiomyomata') is a benign smooth muscle neoplasm that is not premalignant. They can occur in any organ, but the most common forms occur in the uterus and the esophagus.

Etymology

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• Greek:
  • leios = smooth
  • muV = (myo) mouse or muscle
  • oma = tumor
• Latin:
  • Fibra = fiber

Uterine leiomyomata

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Uterine fibroids are leiomyomata of the uterine smooth muscle. As other leiomyomata, they are benign, but may lead to excessive menstrual bleeding (menorrhagia), often cause anemia and may lead to infertility. Enucleation is removal of fibroids without removing the uterus (hysterectomy), which is also commonly performed. Laser surgery (called myolysis) is increasingly used, and provides a viable alternative to surgery.

Uterine leiomyomas originate in the myometrium and are classified by location:

• Submucous – lie just beneath the endometrium.
• Intramural – lie within the uterine wall.
• Subserous – lies at the serosal surface of the uterus or may bulge out from the myometrium and can become pedunculated.

Estrogen and progesterone usually stimulate their growth, and hormone suppression may hence decrease their size.

Esophageal

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They are also the most common benign esophageal tumour, though this accounts for less than 1% of esophageal neoplasms. The remainder consists mainly of carcinomas.

References

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• Merck Manual: Uterine fibroids
• Esophageal Leiomyoma
• Atlas of Pathology uterine leimyoma

See also

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• myosarcoma

External links

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• Laser myomectomy
• Laparoscopic myomectomy.
• Piloleiomyoma
• Angioleiomyoma
• Lipoleiomyoma
• Genital Leiomyoma

Anatomical pathology

Myom | Mioma | מיומה | Myom