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Magnetic resonance imaging features of uterine sarcoma and mimickers

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Abstract

Uterine myometrial tumors are predominantly benign conditions that affect one-third of women and represent the main indication for hysterectomy. Preoperative imaging is of utmost importance for characterization and for precise mapping of myometrial tumors to best guide therapeutic strategy. New minimally invasive therapeutic strategies including morcellation, myolysis, uterine artery embolization and image-guided radiofrequency or focused ultrasound ablation have been developed for the treatment of uterine leiomyoma. However, preoperative differentiation between atypical leiomyomas and leiomyosarcomas is critical on imaging as uterine sarcoma requires a specific surgical technique to prevent dissemination. A single, rapidly growing uterine tumor, associated with endometrial thickening and ascites, in post-menopausal women is suspicious of uterine endometrial stromal sarcoma and carcinosarcoma. Suggestive magnetic resonance imaging features have been described, but overlap in imaging appearance between uterine leiomyosarcomas and cellular leiomyomas makes it challenging to ascertain the diagnosis. This review aims to illustrate the imaging features of uterine sarcomas and potential mimickers to make the reader more familiar with this serious condition which needs special consideration.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Sorbonne Paris Cité, Hôpital Lariboisière, Université Paris Diderot, Paris, France

    Matthias Barral, Vinciane Placé, Raphaël Dautry, Sandra Bendavid, Romain Foucher, Youcef Guerrache & Philippe Soyer

  2. Department of Body and Interventional Imaging, Hôpital Lariboisière, Assistance Publique- Hôpitaux de Paris, 2 rue Ambroise Paré, 75475, Paris, France

    Matthias Barral, Romain Foucher & Philippe Soyer

  3. Inserm U-965, CART, Carcinose Angiogénèse et recherche translationnelle, 41 bvd de La Chapelle, 75010, Paris, France

    Matthias Barral

  4. Department of Pathology, Hôpital Lariboisière, Assistance Publique- Hôpitaux de Paris, 2 rue Ambroise Paré, 75475, Paris, France

    Françoise Cornelis

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  1. Matthias Barral
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Correspondence to Matthias Barral.

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Barral, M., Placé, V., Dautry, R. et al. Magnetic resonance imaging features of uterine sarcoma and mimickers. Abdom Radiol 42, 1762–1772 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00261-017-1076-9

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