Recurrent leiomyomatosis peritonealis disseminate: a case report

Abstract

Leiomyomatosis peritonealis disseminata (LPD), a rare and unusual condition affecting mainly women of reproductive age, causes peritoneal and subperitoneal nodules formed by smooth muscle. Very few cases have been diagnosed since the disease was first described. We present a 42year old female who was managed for infertility and uterine myomata at a Municipal hospital in Ghana. Following a pelvic ultrasound diagnosis of multiple uterine myomata the patient was booked for myomectomy. At surgery to remove her myomata, the patient was found to have several peritoneal nodules some of which were attached to peritoneum, omentum and the surface of bowel loops in addition to a uterine myoma. The disease has since recurred twice after two laparotomies. The diagnosis was made by histopathology of ultrasound-guided biopsy of the nodules, and she has since been on GnRH analogue treatment. LPD simulates peritoneal carcinomatosis; thus, a good history, clinical evaluation, radiological imaging, and histopathologic analysis must be accurately diagnosed. Surgeons’ and Radiologists’ knowledge of the condition is fundamental to ensuring correct diagnosis and appropriate treatment and to minimising the probability of malignant transformation.