Epithelioid leiomyoma of the uterus: A case report with magnetic resonance imaging findings

Abstract

Epithelioid leiomyoma of the uterus is rare, and its prognostic factors have not been well established. Moreover, radiologic findings of this disease have not been previously documented. This is a case of a 49-year-old woman with epithelioid leiomyoma of the uterus. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed a heterogeneous high-intensity mass with multiple ordinary uterine leiomyomas. The mass showed a slightly diffusion-restricted site. Since benign tumors could not be confidently diagnosed using these MRI findings, total abdominal hysterectomy with bilateral salpingectomy was performed, and a pathological diagnosis of epithelioid leiomyoma of the uterus was established. Microscopically, this lesion showed edematous changes and cyst formation, causing a heterogeneous appearance on T2-weighted images. In addition, the diffusion-restricted site is considered to be consistent with areas of solid and dense proliferation of tumor cells. The patient survived and was well 10 months after the surgery. It is important to recognize this benign variant of leiomyoma with an unusual appearance, to provide appropriate therapeutic management.

Highlights

• •Epithelioid leiomyoma of the uterus is rare.
• •Radiologic findings of this disease have not been documented previously.
• •It is important to recognize this benign variant of leiomyoma with an unusual appearance.

1. Introduction

Leiomyomas are the most common benign smooth muscle tumors of the uterus. They have several histological variants, such as atypical, cellular, myxoid, and epithelioid, accounting for approximately 10% of all leiomyoma cases [1]. Epithelioid leiomyoma of the uterus is a rare variant of leiomyoma composed of round or polygonal clear cells rather than typical spindle-shaped cells. The prognostic factors of epithelioid leiomyoma of the uterus have not been well established. However, since variant leiomyomas may have a greater risk of recurrence than ordinary leiomyomas, recognition of these rare and malignancy-mimicking leiomyomas is crucial to prevent inappropriate treatment. Epithelioid leiomyoma of the uterus has been documented in several reports; however, no imaging findings are available. The magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings of this rare tumor are presented herein.

2. Case Presentation

A 49-year-old menopausal woman, gravida 0, was referred to hospital for abdominal discomfort and an increased uterine mass lesion. She had no symptoms of hypermenorrhea or dysmenorrhea and no notable medical history except for Graves' disease. Her uterus was enlarged to that of 9–10 months of gestation. On speculum examination, the cervix appeared normal. Transvaginal ultrasonography revealed a mass occupying the pelvis. MRI of the lower abdomen was performed using a 3-T Magnetom Skyra (Siemens Healthcare, Erlangen, Germany). Multiple well-defined uterine masses were observed: one of them exhibited isointensity to the myometrium on T1-weighted images and heterogeneous high intensity on T2-weighted images (Fig. 1A). On diffusion-weighted images (DWI) with a b-value of 800 s/mm², the solid portion of the mass showed high intensity, but low intensity on the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) map, and the lowest ADC value of the lesion was slightly low (1.3 × 10⁻³ mm²/s) (Fig. 1B, C).

Fig. 1.

Magnetic resonance images.

(A): T2-weighted axial section, (B, C): Diffusion-weighted images. Within the myometrium of the anterior wall of the uterus, a heterogeneous high-intensity mass (arrows) coexisting with multiple ordinary leiomyomas is observed. In the solid portion of the mass, reduced diffusion is observed (B, C; arrowhead).

Although the MRI findings did not positively suggest malignant tumors, the possibility of smooth muscle tumors of uncertain malignant potential (STUMP) or malignancy could not be ruled out; therefore, a total abdominal hysterectomy with bilateral salpingectomy was performed. Pathological examination revealed multiple uterine masses. The cut sections of those masses showed gray-white areas. On the ventral side, the tumor was found to be 5 cm in diameter (Fig. 2). Hematoxylin and eosin staining revealed that the tumor cells had oval nuclei, eosinophilic cytoplasm, dense proliferation, and showed epithelioid arrangement (Fig. 3). Edematous change, cyst formation, and abundant muscular arteries were observed inside the tumor. The boundary between the tumor and surrounding tissue was clear, and no infiltration of the tumor was observed. The mitotic count was 2/10 high-power field (HPF). Immunohistochemical examination revealed positivity for alpha-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA). In addition, desmin and caldesmon were focally positive, suggesting differentiation into smooth muscles. The Ki-67 proliferation index was approximately 5% positive at the hot spot, with an average of 3% positive staining. AE1/AE3, Melan A, HMB45, S100P, cyclin D1, and CD10 were negative.

Fig. 2.

Image of gross examination of a uterus with multiple giant tumors.

Cyst formation is observed inside the tumor attached to the anterior wall of the uterus.

Fig. 3.

Histologic features of the intramural uterine mass.

High-powered view (400 ×) of hematoxylin and eosin-stained specimens showing cells with oval nuclei and epithelioid arrangement.

3. Discussion

The malignant counterpart of uterine leiomyoma is leiomyosarcoma, which is also the most common uterine nonepithelial malignant tumor. Leiomyosarcoma accounts for approximately 1.3% of uterine malignancies. Although most leiomyosarcomas arise de novo, the malignancy may develop in pre-existing leiomyomas as well [1]. Leiomyomas may have unusual growth patterns and many histopathological variants, such as atypical, cellular, mitotically active, myxoid, and epithelioid [1]. Epithelioid leiomyoma is a rare atypical smooth muscle tumor of the uterus and has not been documented extensively. Irrespective of the different morphological variations, management is the same for all leiomyomas, except for certain variants. However, awareness of tumor variants and unconventional growth patterns is critical for appropriate classification and patient management. Pathological findings have been reported in a few cases of uterine epithelioid leiomyoma [2]. However, MRI findings of this rare tumor have not been reported.

DWI of MRI shows tissue characteristics based on the diffusion motion of water molecules. In general, high-cellularity tumors demonstrate restricted diffusion, whereas normal tissues do not. Thus, DWIs can delineate malignant lesions as a hyperintense area with excellent tissue contrast, and cases with hypointense signals on DWIs may be regarded as benign lesions in smooth muscle tumors of the uterus [3,4]. In this case, MRI revealed a solid lesion with a cystic component. Since the solid part was consistent with high intensity on DWI and the ADC value was slightly low, malignant tumors, including STUMP, could not be ruled out. In contrast, previous studies reported that there were overlaps in ADC values between a uterine leiomyoma, such as cellular leiomyoma and bizarre leiomyoma, and uterine sarcoma, suggesting that DWIs alone are insufficient to establish a definite diagnosis [[4], [5], [6], [7], [8]]. Recently, several investigators have reported the high diagnostic capabilities of positron emission tomography (PET) using 2-[18F] fluoro-2-deoxy-d-glucose (FDG) for malignancies of various organs [9,10]. In cases where ADC values for the solid component of the tumor are not definitive for differentiating benign from malignant or borderline components, FDG-PET/computed tomography (CT) or FDG-PET/MRI could be useful. Unfortunately, however, FDG-PET cannot be used to differentiate leiomyosarcoma from leiomyoma. Patients with any future fertility desires may have the option of undergoing myomectomy and careful follow-up after surgery if the imaging tests results do not positively suggest malignancy [11,12].

In this case, the tumor was 5 cm in diameter. It was encapsulated with clear cells, and extensive hyalinization was observed. No necrosis was observed, and the mitotic count was 2/10 HPF [13]. Therefore, a benign lesion was considered. Ki-67, which is a typical immunohistochemical marker for cell proliferation, of the current lesion was approximately 3% positive. Higher expression of Ki-67 correlates with poor clinical outcomes in several cancers. In a group of 68 cases, Mills et al. reported an average proliferation index Ki-67 of 2% in the case of atypical leiomyomas, 3% in the case of leiomyomas, and 25% in leiomyosarcomas [14], which is consistent with these results.

In summary, the case presented herein is an epithelioid leiomyoma of the uterus with multiple ordinary leiomyomas. This rare tumor may show a complex cystic mass on CT and magnetic resonance images and cannot be adequately distinguished from other uterine tumors. However, DWI might be useful while considering the possibility of a variant type of uterine leiomyoma. Nevertheless, further study on the correlation between identification of malignant uterine masses using DWI MRI is warranted.