ABSTRACT

Uterine fibroids are the most common type of benign uterine tumors that originate from the myometrium, and are made of extracellular matrix with collagen, fibronectin, and proteoglycans. Premenopausal and postmenopausal women have the same incidence of myomas, but in the premenopausal period the woman more frequently has multiple and larger myomas compared to postmenopausal women. The ultrasonographic evaluation of myomas is considered an easy, cost-effective, and accurate diagnostic method using the transvaginal and/or transabdominal probe. Uterine sarcomas are malignant uterine tumors that grow from the smooth muscle or connective uterine tissue cells. They represent about 3% of all malignant uterine tumors. There are different histological types of sarcoma: leiomyosarcomas and endometrial stromal sarcomas. Leiomyosarcoma is the most common sarcoma subtype, which is prevalent among women between the fourth and sixth decade of age.