Benign metastasizing leiomyoma: A rarely reported case in low-resource settings

Abstract

Benign metastasizing leiomyoma (BML) is an uncommon disorder characterized by occurrence of benign smooth muscle tumor with identical features as uterine myoma in extrauterine sites. The most documented site is the lungs, but other areas of the body have been reported. The case of a 44-year-old woman who had BML following an earlier open myomectomy is reported. The presentation mimicked an advanced intra-abdominal tumor with lung involvement, and this posed a diagnostic dilemma, especially with the worsening breathlessness and rapid deterioration of the patient's clinical condition. Autopsy provided an insight into this rare case which was confirmed by histology and immunohistochemistry of the masses in the thoracic and abdominal cavities. BML can easily be misdiagnosed but, if promptly detected, medical and surgical management options could be lifesaving for the affected patients. There is a need for a high index of suspicion in patients who have had previous surgeries for fibroids presenting with pressure symptoms from regions other than the pelvis.