Pancreatic metastasis of leiomyoma found 27 years after uterine fibroid surgery

Clin J Gastroenterol. 2023 Dec;16(6):931-936. doi: 10.1007/s12328-023-01842-6. Epub 2023 Aug 26.

Abstract

A 59-year-old female was referred to our hospital for pancreatic tumor. She had undergone resection of uterine fibroids 27 years ago, and leiomyoma in the left thigh 8 years ago. Tumor markers were normal. A well-defined hypoechoic tumor measuring 26 mm × 22 mm was detected at the pancreatic tail using ultrasound. Inside the tumor, a small cystic structure was observed. High-sensitivity Doppler imaging revealed faint signals indicating blood flow from the periphery to the interior. Contrast-enhanced ultrasonography in the arterial phase revealed slow, heterogenous enhancement from the periphery to the center of the mass that occurred later than that in the pancreatic parenchyma. The tumor then exhibited homogeneous enhancement except for the periphery, with subsequent washout. Endoscopic ultrasound-fine-needle aspiration was performed. Histopathological examination diagnosed a leiomyoma. The left thigh tumor resected 8 years ago had been diagnosed as benign metastatic leiomyoma (BML). We considered that the current pancreatic tumor was also BML clinically. We report this case because pancreatic metastasis from uterine fibroids is extremely rare. Uterine fibroids are benign tumors, but there are rare cases of metastasis to various organs, which should be considered when performing ultrasound.

Keywords: Benign metastasizing leiomyoma; Contrast-enhanced ultrasonography; Leiomyoma; Pancreatic metastasis; Uterine fibroid.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Biopsy, Fine-Needle
  • Endosonography
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Leiomyoma* / diagnostic imaging
  • Leiomyoma* / surgery
  • Middle Aged
  • Pancreas / pathology
  • Pancreatic Neoplasms* / diagnostic imaging
  • Pancreatic Neoplasms* / pathology
  • Pancreatic Neoplasms* / surgery