Uterine sarcoma

Last medical review:

Uterine sarcomas begin in the muscle or connective tissue of the uterus. About 5% of all uterine cancers are uterine sarcoma.

Uterine leiomyosarcoma develops in the muscle layer of the uterus wall (called the myometrium). It's the most common type of uterine sarcomas.

Endometrial stromal sarcoma is a rare type of uterine sarcoma. It develops in the supporting connective tissue of the endometrium. Low-grade stromal sarcomas most often occur in premenopausal women. High-grade stromal sarcomas most often occur after menopause.

Undifferentiated sarcomas are a rare, aggressive type of endometrial stromal sarcoma.

Expert review and references

  • Tien Le, MD, FRCSC, DABOG
  • Rajkumar V, Kumar S. Plasma Cell Neoplasms. DeVita VT Jr, Lawrence TS, Rosenberg S. eds. DeVita Hellman and Rosenberg's Cancer: Principles and Practice of Oncology. 12th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Wolters Kluwer; 2023: Kindle version, [chapter 74], https://read.amazon.ca/?asin=B0BG3DPT4Q&language=en-CA.
  • Hacker N, Jackson M, Vermorken J. Cervical cancer. Berek JS, Hacker NF (eds.). Berek and Hacker's Gynecologic Oncology. 7th ed. Philadelphia: Wolters Kluwer; 2021: Kindle version, [Chapter 9].
  • PDQ Adult Treatment Editorial Board. Uterine Sarcoma Treatment (PDQ®)–Health Professional Version. National Cancer Institute; 2022: https://www.cancer.gov/.

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