Leiomyoma of the female urethra and bladder: 5 cases and review of the literature / 대한산부인과학회지

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: Leiomyomas of the bladder and urethra in women is very rare. We present five cases of histologically proven the female urethral and bladder leiomyomas identified over a 15-years period at our institution, together with review of the literature focused on the symptom and proper management. METHODS: Five women pathologically confirmed bladder or urethral leiomyoma were reviewed by the medical record, retrospectively. RESULTS: One patient with bladder leiomyoma was asymptomatic, but four patients with urethral leiomyoma had a palpable mass on physical examination. The leiomyomas posited laterally were less symptomatic than other leiomyomas posited medially, and the symptoms were especially obstructive ones. All of them were removed by excision, and any complication or recurrence was not occurred. CONCLUSION: Leiomyomas of the bladder and urethra are rare and associated with variable symptoms depending on their locations and sizes. It is not necessary immediate operation except to excessive bleeding or acute complete obstruction. Complete excision followed by histological examination is the most reliable means of distinguishing leiomyoma from other more common and usually malignant tumors of the genitourinary tract.