About Uterine Sarcomas:

Cancers that develop in the muscle or supporting stroma of the uterus are uterine sarcomas.  There are rare cancers and should be treated by experts in the field, such as those at UHN.

Types:

• leiomyosarcoma
• low-grade endometrial stromal sarcoma
• high-grade endometrial stromal sarcoma
• adenosarcoma
• perivascular endothelial cell tumor (PEComa)

Symptoms:

Some women with uterine sarcoma may notice abnormal vaginal bleeding or vaginal discharge.  Other symptoms are an enlarging abdominal mass, abdominal pain, abdominal fullness and frequent urination.

Diagnosis:

The diagnosis of uterine sarcoma is often made after surgery.  Prior to surgery, your doctor will complete a physical exam and may perform an endometrial biopsy. CT scan of the chest, abdomen and pelvis will also be done prior to surgery.

Treatment:

Surgery, with removal of the uterus (hysterectomy) is recommended. This provides a diagnosis and stage. This can sometimes be achieved using minimally-invasive surgery (laparoscopy or robotic). Surgery alone can cure the cancer, if it is only within the uterus.  If the cancer has spread outside of the uterus, chemotherapy, hormonal therapy and/or radiation therapy may be used to treat the cancer.