The enigma of leiomyoblastoma: spectrum of a rare gastric tumor.

Leiomyoblastoma is a rare, smooth muscle tumor of the stomach occurring chiefly in the antrum in patients between the fifth and seventh decades. The clinical spectrum, as illustrated in eight patients described in this report, ranges from an incidental finding to a highly malignant, metastasizing neoplasm. Although the large majority of leiomyoblastomas are benign, malignancy has been reported to occur in up to 12% of cases. Resection of the tumor with an appropriate full thickness segment of gastric wall is mandatory.