ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: Uterine sarcomas are rare and heterogeneous tumors with histopathological diversity characterized by rapid clinical progression and a poor prognosis. The aim of this study was to investigate clinical and histopathological characteristics together with treatment and outcome of Iranian patients with uterine sarcomas. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Records of 57 patients with histologically verified uterine sarcoma treated at the Vali-e-Asr Hospital were reviewed (1999-2004). RESULTS: The lesions were 19 leomyosarcoma (LMSs), 17 malignant mixed Mullerian tumors (MMMT), 16 endometrial stromal sarcomas (ESSs), 3 unspecified sarcomas, 2 rabdomyosarcomas. Median age at diagnosis was 50 (17-81) years. Clinical stages (based on FIGO) were 30 with stage I disease, 9 with stage II, 12 with stage III and 6 with stage IV. Only one patient did not undergo surgery and most cases with LMS and ESS were treated with simple total hysterectomy (STH). Forty patients (out of 57) received adjuvant radiotherapy. The median follow-up period was 19 (2-96) months and median disease free period was 16 (1-86) months. The overall survival rates after 1, 2, and 5 years were 71%, 58% and 52%, respectively. Survival was related to histological type of ESS (p=0.0018), grade I (p=0.0032) and early stage (p=0.045) significantly, but was not linked to postoperative irradiation. However, local recurrence rate was significantly improved after adjuvant radiotherapy. Twenty-one patients had relapse, 16 in the pelvic and 5 in extrapelvic sites. CONCLUSION: Based on the findings in this series, prognosis is dependent on histopathological subtype, grade and tumor stage. Adjuvant radiotherapy decreases local recurrence rate, but without significant impact on survival.