Uterine sarcoma.
A total of forty nine cases of uterine sarcomas were seen in Georgetown University Hospital and Lombardi Cancer Center between 1956 and 1978. The peak incidence (35%) was in the age group of 60-70 year-olds. Forty-one percent of all patients presented with postmenopausal bleeding. Preoperative diagnosis was made in less than half of the cases before laparotomy. Endometrial biopsy or curettage was the most commonly used preoperative diagnostic tool. Stages II and III were less commonly seen than I and IV at the time of initial diagnosis. Leiomyosarcoma was the commonest sarcoma in stage I while mixed mesodermal tumors were commoner in advanced stages. Mixed mesodermal tumors of the homologous variety comprised 35% of all cases. The longest survivals in this series are 22 1/2 years (leiomyosarcoma stage I), 21 years (mixed mesodermal sarcoma stage III), and 13 years (mixed mesodermal sarcoma stage I). Retrospective analysis is done to compare the results of different modalities of treatment.