Paraurethral leiomyoma in a 52 year-old woman: Clinical and diagnostic features and surgical treatment

Abstract

Leiomyomas are benign tumors of smooth muscle origin occurring throughout the genitourinary system. Sometimes paraurethral leiomyoma can cause a bulking effect on the bladder without gross involvement of the urethra. In our work we describe the case of a woman with a vulvar mass found after self-examination. She was investigated pelvic Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) which showed a well encapsulated solid mass, about 24mm (maximum diameter) located at paraurethral level, on right anterolateral side, It showed uptake of contrast, with a compressive-dislocative effect on the urethra, without involvement of the sphincters. Surgery was performed with excission “en-block” of the mass. The procedure was well tolerated under spinal anesthesia and the patient was discharged 24h later, after removing the bladder catheter. No signs of haematuria nor symptoms of incontinence were reported in the following weeks. Pathology of the excised specimen revealed complete resection of a benign, submucus leiomyoma. Although leiomyomas are very common in organs such as the uterus, the presentation of a urethral leiomyoma, as found in the present case, is very rare. The description of these lesions is however important to create a scientific path that can clarify the cause and the evolution. It can also represent an evolution for imaging through MRI, improving its framework and distinguishing it from malignant tumors that require another surgical strategy.