Smooth muscle tumours of the digestive tract: report of 160 cases.

Of 160 patients seen in the period 1951-84 with smooth muscle tumours of the digestive tract, 71 proved to have leiomyomas, 87 had leiomyosarcomas and 2 had leiomyoblastomas. Tumour diameter was frequently greater in patients with leiomyosarcoma. The surgical mortality was 2.8 per cent after treatment of leiomyoma and 10.3 per cent after treatment of leiomyosarcoma. After resection of leiomyosarcoma the 2-year survival rate was 86 per cent and the 5-year survival rate was 43 per cent. The only hope of cure of these malignant lesions lies in surgical resection but, even when the lesion is incurable, resection may allow worthwhile palliation.