International Urology and Nephrology 34: 193–195, 2002.
© 2003 Kluwer Academic Publishers. Printed in the Netherlands.
193
Right upper quadrant swelling due to Leiomyosarcoma
Satish Gunwant, Chandra Shekhar Biyani & David Almond
Department of Urology, Princess Royal Hospital, Saltshouse Road, Hull HU8 9HE, UK
Abstract. Reports of leiomyosarcoma occurring in the extremely elderly are quite rare. We describe a case of
leiomyosarcoma in an 85-year-old patient and discuss magnetic resonance findings.
Key words: Leiomyosarcoma, Magnetic resonance imaging
Case report
An 85-year-old man presented to his general prac-
titioner with swelling arising from right lower chest
extending to the upper abdomen. He also complained
of pain in the back, mostly over the dorsal lumber
spine, and also over the anterior abdominal wall.
He had long-standing anaemia that had been investi-
gated by his general practitioner with upper and
lower gastrointestinal (GI) endoscopy. The upper GI
endoscopy showed a grade II oesophagitis; colono-
scopy was unremarkable. On this occasion, he
initially was referred to the plastic surgeons with
a possible diagnosis of lipoma in the right upper
quadrant; he then was transferred to the general
surgeons. On examination he was found to be midlly
anaemic. Abdominal examination revealed a large
mass occupying the right upper and lower quadrant.
An ultrasound showed the mass to be separate from
liver, but the right kidney could not be visualized. The
tumour appeared hypointense on T
1
-weighted images,
but T
2
-weighted sequence showed the tumour to be
hyperintense. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
(Figures 1–4) demonstrated a cystic mass arising from
and replacing the right kidney. The impression was of
a cystic renal cell carcinoma. The patient was referred
to the Urology Department. At laparotomy, a large
indistinguishable vascular retroperitoneal mass was
seen which was inoperable. The patient succumbed to
the disease process.
The histological report showed the mass to be
a neoplasm formed of markedly pleomorphic cells
that included spindle-shaped, irregular stellate-shaped,
rounded, and tumour giant cells with a high mitotic
Figure 1. Coronal T
1
-weighted image shows a large lesion of low
signal intensity.
Figure 2. Coronal T
2
-weighted image shows abnormally high
signal intensity.