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Cancer is classified according to the type of cell it starts from. Leiomyosarcoma, or LMS, is a rare type of cancer that grows in the smooth muscles, including the intestines, stomach, bladder, and blood vessels. In females, it can also develop in the uterus. Other types of cancers that can develop in the muscles include rhabdomyosarcoma and bone cancer.
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What You'll Learn
- Leiomyosarcoma is a rare cancer that grows in smooth muscles
- Leiomyomas are benign tumours of smooth muscle
- Rhabdomyomas are benign tumours of skeletal and heart muscle
- Soft tissue sarcomas are a rare group of cancers that grow in muscles
- Treatment options for muscle cancer include surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy
Leiomyosarcoma is a rare cancer that grows in smooth muscles
Muscle cancer does exist, and it is called soft tissue sarcoma. This is a rare type of cancer that starts in soft tissues such as muscles and fat. One of the subtypes of soft tissue sarcoma is Leiomyosarcoma (LMS), a rare cancer that grows in the smooth muscles. Smooth muscles are found in the hollow organs of the body, including the intestines, stomach, bladder, and blood vessels. In females, there is also smooth muscle in the uterus. These smooth muscle tissues help move blood, food, and other materials through the body without the person being aware.
Leiomyosarcoma is an aggressive cancer, meaning it can grow quickly. It is found most often in the abdomen or uterus. It is a rare cancer, with an estimated incidence of 1 in 100,000 people per year in the United States. Leiomyosarcoma can affect anyone, but it is more common in females over the age of 5. It is also more common in adults than in children, with only about 20 to 30 children diagnosed with LMS in the United States per year.
The symptoms of Leiomyosarcoma depend on the size and location of the tumor. Some people may not experience any symptoms early on, but as the tumor grows, they may notice certain signs such as a firm, painless lump in the soft tissues of the body. It can sometimes cause cramping or pain when it arises in an internal organ, such as the uterus or the digestive tract.
Treatment options for Leiomyosarcoma include surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy, depending on the location and size of the tumor. It is important for patients to consult with an oncologist who is familiar with the disease and to have a complete staging and accurate diagnosis before formulating a treatment plan.
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Leiomyomas are benign tumours of smooth muscle
While cancers that originate in muscles do exist, such as Leiomyosarcoma, a rare cancer that grows in smooth muscles, and Rhabdomyosarcoma, a type of cancer that often starts in bones, Leiomyomas are non-cancerous tumours.
Histologically, a benign smooth muscle tumour (leiomyoma) of deep somatic soft tissue is typically unencapsulated, well-circumscribed, multinodular, and has low cellularity spindle cell lesions. The lesional cells are characteristically bland, cigar-shaped spindle cells, with eosinophilic cytoplasm and indistinct cell borders. There is no evidence of mitotic activity, nuclear pleomorphism, or coagulative tumour necrosis.
In 2001, Billings and colleagues analysed the clinicopathological features of 13 highly differentiated smooth muscle tumours/leiomyomas of deep somatic soft tissue to determine if it is possible to define a biologically benign group of smooth muscle tumours. They found that the majority of leiomyomas of deep somatic soft tissue in their series lacked nuclear atypia, although minimal atypia of a focal nature was present in some cases.
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Rhabdomyomas are benign tumours of skeletal and heart muscle
Muscle cancer does exist, and it is known as soft tissue sarcoma. This is a rare type of cancer that starts in soft tissues such as muscle and fat. Leiomyosarcoma, for example, is a type of cancer that starts in smooth muscle tissue. However, there are also benign tumours that can develop in the muscles, and these are called rhabdomyomas.
Rhabdomyomas are benign tumours that arise from skeletal or cardiac (striated) muscle fibres. They are differentiated by their microscopic appearance, which can be adult, juvenile, or fetal. They are typically well-circumscribed, smooth-surfaced, pale fleshy masses that may be highly vascularized or cystic. They can range in size from 1 to 30 cm in diameter.
Cardiac rhabdomyomas, in particular, are benign tumours that form in the heart muscle. They are usually found in the ventricular walls or on the valves of the heart. These tumours are typically detected using imaging techniques such as ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Cardiac rhabdomyomas are the most common type of heart tumour in babies and children, but they are still considered rare overall.
These tumours often signal the presence of a rare genetic disorder called tuberous sclerosis, which affects approximately 1 in 6,000 newborns in the United States. At least 8 out of 10 people with cardiac rhabdomyomas also have this condition. Tuberous sclerosis is caused by mutations in the TSC1 or TSC2 gene, which occur before birth.
Cardiac rhabdomyomas typically appear in clusters and can vary in size from a few millimetres to several centimetres. They are usually asymptomatic and go away on their own without causing serious problems. However, in rare cases, larger tumours may block blood flow or disrupt heart rhythm, leading to heart failure or arrhythmia.
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Soft tissue sarcomas are a rare group of cancers that grow in muscles
Muscle cancer does exist, and it is called soft tissue sarcoma. Soft tissue sarcoma is a rare form of cancer that starts in soft tissues such as muscles, tendons, fat, lymph, nerves, fibrous tissues, blood vessels, and deep skin tissues. They can develop anywhere in the body but are most commonly found in the arms, legs, chest, and abdomen.
There are over 50 different types of soft tissue sarcomas, and they can be further classified based on the specific type of soft tissue where the cancer originates. For instance, leiomyosarcoma is a type of soft tissue sarcoma that starts in smooth muscle tissue, and liposarcomas are malignant tumours of fat tissue. Malignant mesenchymoma is another rare type of sarcoma that exhibits features of fibrosarcoma and at least two other types of sarcoma.
The signs of soft tissue sarcoma include a lump or swelling in the soft tissue. However, in some cases, there may be no noticeable symptoms until the tumour grows large enough to press on nearby nerves or other body parts. Soft tissue sarcomas are typically treated through a combination of chemotherapy, surgery, and radiation therapy.
It is important to note that benign tumours of skeletal and heart muscle, known as rhabdomyomas, are non-cancerous and distinct from soft tissue sarcomas.
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Treatment options for muscle cancer include surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy
Muscle cancer is a broad term, and while there are various types of cancer that can affect muscles, the term most often refers to muscle-invasive bladder cancer. Treatment options for this type of cancer include surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy.
Surgery for muscle-invasive bladder cancer can involve removing the bladder (cystectomy), which is a major operation that requires a new way of collecting urine, such as wearing a bag attached to an opening in the abdomen (urostomy). Before a cystectomy, a patient will often undergo a transurethral resection of the bladder tumor (TURBT) to diagnose the cancer and determine its stage. A second TURBT may be performed to ensure that all cancerous tissue has been removed.
Radiation therapy, or radiotherapy, uses high-energy rays to destroy cancer cells. It can be combined with chemotherapy as the main treatment or used to control symptoms if the cancer has spread. One study on male mice found that radiation exposure during muscle development induced long-term negative effects on skeletal muscle health, contributing to a reduced quality of life in childhood cancer survivors. However, the same study also found that exercise training improved muscle morphology and satellite cell dynamics compared to diet-induced obesity in irradiated muscle.
Chemotherapy uses anti-cancer drugs, also known as cytotoxic drugs, to destroy cancer cells. These drugs circulate throughout the body via the bloodstream. Some chemotherapy drugs can cause nerve damage, leading to muscle weakness, tingling, numbness, or pain in the hands and feet. This condition is called chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) and can be short-term or permanent.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, muscle cancer exists and is called soft tissue sarcoma. It is a rare type of cancer that starts in soft tissues such as muscles, bones, fat, nerves, fibrous tissues, blood vessels, cartilage, and deep layers of skin. Leiomyosarcoma, or LMS, is a rare type of soft tissue sarcoma that grows in the smooth muscles of the body.
The most common sign of soft tissue sarcoma is a painless lump or growth. However, some may not be noticeable until they start pressing on nearby muscles or nerves. Other symptoms include stomach pain, bleeding, vomiting blood, and a blocked intestine.
Surgery is the first line of treatment for muscle cancer. Doctors try to remove the tumors without harming the surrounding healthy tissue. Radiation therapy and chemotherapy are also used, sometimes in combination with surgery.
