Superficial cutaneous leiomyosarcoma: a rare, misleading tumor

Am J Clin Dermatol. 2008;9(3):185-7. doi: 10.2165/00128071-200809030-00008.

Abstract

Leiomyosarcomas are rare malignant tumors of smooth muscles. Superficial leiomyosarcoma is generally a disease of middle age, most frequently encountered between 40 and 60 years of age. It is usually diagnosed late or misdiagnosed, since it is a very rare tumor of the head and neck. Awareness of the particularly misleading features of this tumor, especially in elderly patients, is important, as delayed diagnosis is correlated with larger size and invasiveness into contiguous structures, which influence the practicability of radical resection. We present the case of an 81-year-old man with cutaneous leiomyosarcoma on the forehead.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Forehead
  • Humans
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Leiomyosarcoma / diagnosis*
  • Leiomyosarcoma / pathology
  • Leiomyosarcoma / surgery
  • Male
  • Skin Neoplasms / diagnosis*
  • Skin Neoplasms / pathology
  • Skin Neoplasms / surgery