Primary leiomyoma of the liver in an immunocompetent patient

Abstract

Primary leiomyoma of the liver (PLL) is a rare benign tumor occurring in immunosuppressed people. From 1926 less than fifty cases are reported in the scientific literature and about half are in immunocompetent patients. Etiology of this kind of lesion is not yet well known. We report a case of primary hepatic leiomyoma in a 60-year-old immunocompetent woman. The patient presented with lipothymia with unexpected vomiting. She underwent an ultrasound (US), and a computed tomography (CT) scan that revealed the presence of a single, solid lesion about 9 cm located between the S5 and S8 segment of the liver. It showed a well-defined, heterogeneous hypodensity with internal and peripheral enhancement and various central hypoattenuating areas and no wash-out in the portal and the late phases. Because of her symptoms and the risk of malignancy, the patient underwent a surgical liver resection. Histological diagnosis was primary leiomyoma of the liver. The patient had an uneventful recovery and was discharged after 7 days. At 30 months follow-up there were no symptoms and no evidence of disease. Leiomyoma of the liver is a rare benign neoplasm of which clinical symptoms are nonspecific and the exact radiological diagnosis still remains a challenge for radiologists. Etiology is still unclear and usually PLL represents an incidental diagnosis. Surgery plays a primary role not only in the treatment algorithm, but also in the diagnostic workout.