Leiomyoma of the Skin: clinicopathological study of 19 cases

Kang, Seok Jin; Kim, Sun Moo

Abstract

Nineteen cases of leiomyoma of the skin were examined clinicopathologically. This group included 12 cases of angioleiomyoma, 5 cases of solitary piloleiomyoma, and 2 cases of multiple piloleiomyomas. 1) All twelve angioleiomyomas occured as solitary lesion in the extremities. There was a preponderance in females with a ratio of 2:1. The ages of patients ranged from 24 to 80 years and only one was below the age of 30 years. Six tumors were either painful or tender. Nine tumors in subcutaneous fat were shelled out at surgery. All tumors did not exceed 4cm in diameter. Histologically they could be separated into ten cases of the solid type and two cases of venous type according to Morimoto's classification. Although actin or desmin was easily detected in all tumors, the diagnosis was better made using a combination of hematoxylin-eosin and Masson trichrome stains. 2) Five cases of solitary piloleiomyoma were slow-growing intradermal nodules. The ages of patients ranged from 10 to 77 years. All five cases were female. The lesions were located on the extremities, back and sholuder. Pain or tenderness was present in 3 cases among these tumors. Histologically, all tumors were characterized by subtle poorly circumscribed proliferation of benign smooth muscle in the dermis. 3) Two multiple piloleiomyomas from two female patients, aged 50 and 40 years, were situated on the shoulder and thigh, respectively. Pain was induced by change of temperature in the shoulder lesion. Histologically they were identical to the solitary piloleiomyoma.