BENIGN CERVICAL LEIOMYOMA LEADING TO DISSEMINATED FATAL MALIGNANCY

A case study is reported of incomplete excision of a sessile leiomyoma of the posterior cervix followed by rapid tumor growth of the same re gion in a pregnancy commencing 2 months later, Cesarean section for pl acenta previa was followed 10 days later by hysterectomy for massive h emorrhage. The tumor was considered, following multiple review, to be a leiomyoma of the cervix with mitosis consistent with recent pregnanc y, Widespread peritoneal recurrence occurred within 3 months requiring further laparotomy for excision of widespread tumor and ligation of i nternal iliac arteries, Death occurred 4 weeks later with widespread p eritoneal occurrence, No postmortem was performed, The case emphasizes the rare potential for malignant change in histologically benign leio myomas with no indications to this potential apart from biological beh avior. (C) 1996 Academic Press, Inc.