Author(s)

Mark Juhl, Martha-Gracia Knuttinen, Rajul Kothari, John Groth

College of Medicine, University of Illinois, Chicago, USA.
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Illinois, Chicago, USA.
Department of Pathology, University of Illinois, Chicago, USA.
Department of Radiology, University of Illinois, Chicago, USA.

Uterine leiomyoma is a relatively common condition occurring in a majority of African American and Caucasian women by age 50. Magnetic resonance imaging of the pelvis with contrast is the modality of choice when evaluating uterine tumors. We report a case of a patient with a four-day history of intra-menstrual vaginal bleeding who underwent magnetic resonance imaging of the pelvis that suggested the tumor was a leiomyosarcoma, the malignant counterpart of leiomyoma. Therefore, the patient underwent pre-operative uterine artery embolization to decrease blood loss with exploratory laparotomy, resection of pelvic mass and dilation and curettage. Pathologic evaluation of the mass returned a diagnosis of leiomyoma. Magnetic resonance imaging evaluation of leiomyomata remains difficult. Further development of imaging parameters could improve diagnosis of benign uterine fibroids.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Uterine Fibroid Embolization, Fibroid, Leiomyoma, Leiomyosarcoma

Juhl, M. , Knuttinen, M. , Kothari, R. and Groth, J. (2014) Revisiting Imaging and Pathology of Malignant Appearing Uterine Smooth Muscle Tumors: A Mistaken Identity of Leiomyosarcoma on MRI. Open Journal of Radiology, 4, 177-181. doi: 10.4236/ojrad.2014.42023.