Uterine Leiomyomas: Cytogenetic and Histologic Profile

Objective: The main purpose of this study was to determine whether there is any correlation between the cytogenetic abnormalities and histology in uterine leiomyomas. Methods: A total of 93 benign uterine leiomyomas were included in the study. The majority (88 of 93) were classified as typical benign leiomyomas, four as cellular, and one as atypical symplastic. Results: A normal chromosome complement (46,XX) was observed in approximately 50% of the cases (41 of 93). Seventeen leiomyomas did not grow sufficiently in culture to yield cells for chromosome analyses. Of the 35 cases with clonal abnormalities, 28 could be divided into four major subgroups, each representing one of the most common abnormalities observed, such as those of chromosomes 1, 7, and 13, and t(12;14). Conclusions: Our findings indicate that approximately 50% of leiomyomas show clonal abnormalities, which can be subdivided into four different major categories; four of five (80%) of the atypical leiomyomas showed clonal chromosome abnormalities, which in one case were complex. The results indicate that different specific chromosome abnormalities may characterize the same tumor type.