THE ENIGMA OF LEIOMYOBLASTOMA - SPECTRUM OF A RARE GASTRIC TUMOR

Leiomyoblastoma is a rare, smooth muscle tumor of the stomach occurrin g chiefly in the antrum in patients between the fifth and seventh deca des. The clinical spectrum, as illustrated in eight patients described in this report, ranges from an incidental finding to a highly maligna nt, metastasizing neoplasm. Although the large majority of leiomyoblas tomas are benign, malignancy has been reported to occur in up to 12% o f cases. Resection of the tumor with an appropriate full thickness seg ment of gastric wall is mandatory.