Pathology, cytogenetics and molecular biology of uterine leiomyomas and other smooth muscle lesions.

Uterine smooth muscle tumors are common and pose a significant public health problem for women of reproductive age. Although most uterine smooth muscle tumors are benign, pathologic diagnosis of the infrequent malignant leiomyosarcoma is important for clinical management and prediction of clinical outcome. Pathologic criteria for diagnosing malignancy in uterine smooth muscle tumors and studies of their validity are reviewed. Advances in the cytogenetic and molecular biologic study of uterine leiomyomas and their variants are being made which may ultimately change our understanding of their pathobiology, diagnosis, and potentially, their treatment.