[Clinicopathologic characteristics and prognosis factors of uterine sarcomas in central Tunisia].

To analyze the clinical and pathological features of uterine sarcomas treated at our referral medical center. The aim of the study is also to analyze their prognosis factors. We performed a retrospective analysis of 40 women with uterine sarcoma treated at the Obstetrics and Gynecology department - Sousse - Tunisia between 1997 and 2010. Tumor stage was assessed according to the FIGO 1988 classification. Patient's outcomes were recorded and analyzed using SPSS 18.0 program. Forty patients were included in the study. Leiomyosarcoma represents 65% of cases (n=26) and carcinosarcoma 20 % (n=8). Mean age at the time of diagnosis was 53 years (range: 35-82 years). The most common symptoms were vaginal bleeding and pelvic pain (respectively 72.5% and 45%). Mean interval time from onset of symptoms and pathological diagnosis of sarcoma was 16 weeks (range: 0 to 96 weeks). Definitive diagnosis of sarcoma was achieved after pathological analysis in 62.5%. Most common histological type was leiomyosarcoma in 65 % of cases. A total of 36 patients underwent total hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oophorectmy. In four cases pelvic lymphadenectomy was also performed. 75% (n=30) were in FIGO stage I. Eleven patients underwent external pelvic radiotherapy and chemotherapy was administrated in three cases. At the time of study, mean follow up was 30.9 months (range: 0 to 120 months). The 5-year global survival and free survival were 17.5% and 15%, respectively. In multivariate analysis tumor stage was found to be the strongest prognostic factor. Mean survival was 71 months in FIGO stage I, 13.4 months in FIGO stage II, 10 months in FIGO stage III and 4,8 months in FIGO stage IV(p<0,001). Uterine sarcomas are rare. Leiomyosarcoma is the most common histological type. Pathological diagnosis is usually achieved after radical surgery. Prognosis is poor and is correlated with tumor stage.