Metastatic Uterine Leiomyosarcoma as a Rare and Sinister Cause of Respiratory Distress: A Case Report and Literature Review

Abstract

Uterine leiomyosarcomas are an extremely rare subtype of uterine malignancy. This is a case report of a 47-year-old woman whose underlying uterine leiomyosarcoma manifested as acute respiratory distress secondary to pulmonary metastases. We highlight that a combination of suggestive imaging features and elevated lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) may prompt its diagnosis, notwithstanding that histological examination of a tissue sample is mandatory for its confirmation. The diagnosis of this condition is arduous for a multitude of reasons, including the insidious clinical course, aggressive nature, and high propensity to metastasize, coupled with a lack of standardised guidelines for its preoperative work-up. These challenges are amplified where resources may be limited, such as in the Caribbean region, where radiographic imaging and treatment options may not always be readily available.

A bibliometric analysis of literatures on uterine leiomyosarcoma in the last 20 years

“…There have been numerous case reports on leiomyosarcoma of the uterus in recent years. The vast majority of these case reports deal with unusual clinical characteristics of the tumor ( 66 ), uncommon distant metastases ( 67 ), treatment outcomes ( 68 ), etc. Upon reviewing these case reports, one discovers that the majority of them are case studies, making it impossible to categorize and condense uLMS.…”