Laparoscopically Assisted Vaginal Hysterectomy Versus Total Abdominal Hysterectomy for Leiomyosarcoma Treatment: Analysis and Follow-Up of 20 Cases

This retrospective study aimed to review the prognostic factors for leiomyosarcoma (LMS) and to compare the efficacies of laparoscopically assisted vaginal hysterectomy (LAVH) and total abdominal hysterectomy (TAH) for the management of uterine LMS. The clinical records were reviewed for 20 patients who had undergone either LAVH or TAH between 1992 and 1998 at Shin-Kong Hospital, with subsequent diagnosis of uterine LMS. Mitotic index and tumor size appeared to be the factors significantly related to survival. After comparison of the two surgical procedures, it was concluded that LAVH can be as effective as the total abdominal variant for the management of LMS.