Synonyms of Leiomyosarcoma, GeneralDisorder Subdivisions
General DiscussionLeiomyosarcoma is a malignant (cancerous) tumor that arises from smooth muscle tissue. There are essentially two types of muscles in the body: voluntary and involuntary. Smooth muscles are involuntary muscles; the brain has no conscious control over them. Smooth muscles react involuntarily in response to various stimuli. For example, smooth muscle that lines the walls of the digestive tract causes wave-like contractions (peristalsis) that aid in the digestion and transport of food. Smooth muscles in the salivary glands cause the glands to squirt saliva into the mouth in response to taking a bite of food. Smooth muscle in the skin causes goose bumps to form in response to cold.
Leiomyosarcoma is a form of cancer. The term cancer refers to a group of diseases characterized by abnormal, uncontrolled cellular growth that invades surrounding tissues and may spread (metastasize) to distant bodily tissues or organs via the bloodstream, the lymphatic system, or other means. Different forms of cancer, including leiomyosarcomas, may be classified based upon the cell type involved, the specific nature of the malignancy, and the disease's clinical course.
Since smooth muscle is found all over the body, a leiomyosarcoma can form almost anywhere including the gastrointestinal tract, heart, liver, pancreas, genitourinary tract, the space behind the abdominal cavity (retroperitoneum), uterus, skin, and the walls of blood vessels. The gastrointestinal tract and the uterus are the most common locations for a leiomyosarcoma. Approximately 50 percent of leiomyosarcomas occur in the gastrointestinal tract.
Leiomyosarcoma is classified as a soft tissue sarcoma. Sarcomas are malignant tumors that arise from the connective tissue, which connects, supports and surrounds various structures and organs in the body. Soft tissue includes fat, muscle, never, tendons, tissue surrounding the joints (synovial tissue), and blood and lymph vessels. The exact cause of leiomyosarcoma, including uterine leiomyosarcoma, is unknown.
Organizations related to Leiomyosarcoma, General- American Cancer Society, Inc.
1599 Clifton Road NE
Atlanta GA 30329
Phone #: 404-320-3333
800 #: 800-227-2345
e-mail: N/A
Home page: http://www.cancer.org
- BeatSarcoma
143 28th Street
San Francisco CA 94131
Phone #: 415-651-4473
800 #: N/A
e-mail: [email protected]
Home page: N/A
- National Cancer Information Center
514 10th Street NW
Washington DC 20004
Phone #: 301-929-8243
800 #: 800-227-2345
e-mail: N/A
Home page: N/A
- National Cancer Institute
6116 Executive Blvd, MSC 8322, Room 3036A
Bethesda MD 20892-8322
Phone #: 301-435-3848
800 #: 800-422-6237
e-mail: N/A
Home page: http://www.cancer.gov
- OncoLink: The University of Pennsylvania Cancer Center Resource
3400 Spruce Street
Philadelphia PA 19104-4283
Phone #: 215-349-5445
800 #: --
e-mail: [email protected]
Home page: http://www.oncolink.upenn.edu
- Rare Cancer Alliance
1649 North Pacana Way
Green Valley AZ 85614
Phone #: 520-625-5495
800 #: --
e-mail: [email protected]
Home page: http://www.rare-cancer.org
- Sarcoma Alliance
775 E. Blithedale #334
Mill Valley CA 94941
Phone #: 415-381-7236
800 #: --
e-mail: [email protected]
Home page: http://www.sarcomaalliance.org
- Sarcoma Foundation of America
9884 Main Street
Damascus MD 20872
Phone #: 301-253-8687
800 #: --
e-mail: [email protected]
Home page: http://www.curesarcoma.org
For a Complete Report
This is an abstract of a report from the National Organization for Rare Disorders, Inc. ? (NORD). A copy of the complete report can be obtained for a small fee by visiting the NORD website. The complete report contains additional information including symptoms, causes, affected population, related disorders, standard and investigational treatments (if available), and references from medical literature. For a full-text version of this topic, see http://www.rarediseases.org/search/rdblist.html