Leiomyosarcoma of the rectum: radical vs. conservative therapy and report of three cases.

Three cases of leiomyosarcoma of the rectum are presented. A review of the literature appears to indicate that there is little relationship between Broders' pathologic classification and survival. Size of the tumor, presence of ulceration of the rectal mucosa, and fixation of the lesion appear to have a significant relationship to survival. In appropriately selected patients (no ulceration or fixation, small size), local excision appears to offer as good a chance of survival as abdominoperineal resection.