How Does Necrosis Focally Present in Leiomyosarcoma?
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Necrosis
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Necrosis refers to the death of soft tissue cells in the body. Cancer tumors and some forms of cancer treatment can interfere with blood flow, causing tissue death. According to the National Institutes of Health, necrosis is not reversible; it's treated by surgically removing the dead tissue. Necrosis in Leiomyosarcoma mainly manifests itself as swollen and sometimes painful tissue, and is normally internally visible via CT scan or MRI. Necrosis affects the tissue surrounding a soft tissue tumor, or the area where radiation/chemotherapy has been used to treat leiomyosarcoma.
Leiomyosarcoma
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Leiomyosarcoma---a form of soft tissue sarcoma---is a cancerous tumor that often causes a noticeable lump or swelling, pain (depending on location) or a blockage in the stomach or intestines that causes bleeding. According to the Mayo Clinic, leiomyosarcoma occurs in smooth muscles found most commonly in the uterus, gastrointestinal tract or lining of blood vessels. Leiomyosarcoma has no known cause; according to the Mayo Clinic, occasionally soft tissue sarcomas can occur as a side effect from exposure to radiation therapy during previous cancer treatment. If you discover a lump, have abdominal pain or blood in your stools, talk to your doctor.
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The Connection
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Leiomyosarcoma, by definition, is a soft tissue cancer found in muscles not under voluntary control. As cancer cells in the tumor grow, cell death can occur. Cell death---necrosis---causes the release of harmful chemicals into surrounding tissue. Necrosis can spread within a tumor and to surrounding tissue as a tumor grows. Since leiomyosarcoma affects internal soft tissue far from the surface of your skin, necrosis will not be externally visible and would be found during a radiological examination.
If leiomyosarcoma tumors grow large or spread into other organs, those organ functions become compromised and eventually destroyed. As the cancerous tumor grows the risk for necrosis increases. Necrosis presents the same symptoms of leiomyosarcoma, with an increased chance of bleeding if the tumor is in your uterus, stomach or intestines.
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