Leiomyoma in the Posterior Choroid: A Case Report

Smooth muscle tumor of the uveal tract is rare, and mostly located in the ciliochoroidal area. We report a unique case of posterior choroidal leiomyoma in a 27-yr-old man. Ophthalmoscopic examination disclosed an 11 mm-sized mass on the fundus two-disc diameters apart from the optic disc. With a suspicion of amelanotic melanoma, the globe was enucleated. The mass occupied the whole thickness of choroidal stroma beneath the pigmented retinal epithelium and composed of spindle cells arranged in intersecting fascicles. Immunohistochemical studies demonstrated immunoreactivities of the tumor cells for smooth muscle actin, desmin, and vimentin. Ultrastructurally, numerous intracytoplasmic filaments with fusiform focal densities, scattered segmental external laminae, subplasmalemmal densities, and pinocytic vesicles were noted. The leiomyoma in this case had several unusual features in that it was confined to the posterior choroid with no relation to the ciliary body, occupied the whole stroma of the choroid instead of suprauveal location, and occurred in a young male. It is important to include choroidal leiomyoma in the differential diagnosis of choroidal tumors.

Galactosaminoglycans from normal myometrium and leiomyoma

In many tumors, the amount of chondroitin sulfate in the extracellular matrix has been shown to be elevated when compared to the corresponding normal tissue. Nevertheless, the degree of chondroitin sulfate increase varies widely. In order to investigate a possible correlation between the amount of chondroitin sulfate and tumor size, several individual specimens of human leiomyoma, a benign uterine tumor, were analyzed. The glycosaminoglycans from eight tumors were extracted and compared with those from the respective adjacent normal myometrium. The main glycosaminoglycan found in normal myometrium was dermatan sulfate, with small amounts of chondroitin sulfate and heparan sulfate. In leiomyoma, both dermatan sulfate and chondroitin sulfate were detected and the total amounts of the two galactosaminoglycans was increased in all tumors when compared to normal tissue. In contrast, the heparan sulfate concentration decreased in the tumor. To assess the disaccharide composition of galactosaminoglycans, these compounds were incubated with bacterial chondroitinases AC and ABC. The amounts of L-iduronic acid-containing disaccharides remained constant, whereas the concentration of D-glucuronic acid-containing disaccharides increased from 2 to 10 times in the tumor, indicating that D-glucuronic acid-containing disaccharides are responsible for the elevation in galactosaminoglycan concentration. This increase is positively correlated with tumor size

Serum protein-bound hexosamine in tumours of the genital tract

Serum protein-bound hexosamine was estimated in one hundred and four women. In patients with fibroid uterus there was an increase in its level. In the malignancy group of patients there was a highly statistically significant increase in its mean than that of controls. Its level could be of value in early detection of cancer body

Serum protein-bound sialic acid in tumours of the genital tract

Serum protein-bound sialic acid was estimated in one hundred and four women. There is no statistical difference in patients with fibroid uterus. There is an increase in malignant tumours and this is more in inoperable cases. This might be of value in determining the extent of the malignat tumour

glycoprotein, seromucoid in tumours of the genital tract

A specific glycoprotein, the seromucoid was studied in one hundred and four women. In patients with fibroid uterus it showed a highly significant statistical increase in its mean than that of the control group. In the malignant group of patients its level was more marked than that of fibroid cases. It was shown to be of value in the follow up of malignant cases after treatment