THE INCIDENTALLY FOUND LEIOMYOMA THAT WAS IN A RESECTED STOMACH AND ITS FOLLOW-UP

BACKGROUND/AIMS: A prospective study measured the occurrence of leiomy oma in patients receiving various gastric surgeries and the probable c haracteristics of patients presenting an incidental leiomyoma. METHODO LOGY: Twenty-eight (3.5%) patients with gastric leiomyoma were encount ered among 796 resected stomach specimens within the past two years. O f these patients, 11 exhibiting a submucosal tumor were preoperatively diagnosed with endoscopy, whereas 17 showing leiomyoma were incidenta lly found during a thorough survey of the resected stomach specimens. Their demographic characteristics were compared. RESULTS: Occurrence o f incidental leiomyoma tended to be more common in patients with gastr ic cancer than in other lesions (3.2% vs 0.9%, p=0.0513). Comparing th e characteristics of patients showing incidental leiomyoma and pre-ope ratively diagnosed submucosal tumor, their differences in age, gender, tumor location or number were not significant. However, the former us ually exhibited tiny lesions without an overlying necrotic ulcer. Rece nt endoscopic follow-up did not find any evidence of recurrence. CONCL USIONS: Incidental leiomyoma is not rare in resected specimens. Most l esions are tiny without overlying ulcer and gross recurrence looks imp ossible. Pre-operative diagnosis of this lesion remains difficult sinc e a warning sign of leiomyoma never exists.