Uterine sarcomas in RIPAS Hospital, Brunei Darussalam: A 10-year Experience

 

Alice KURIEN, Saw OHNMAR, Roselina YAAKUB

Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, RIPAS Hospital, Brunei Darussalam

 

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Uterine sarcomas are rare but aggressive malignant tumours of the smooth muscle or supporting tissues of the uterus. Currently, there are no published data available in Brunei Darussalam. This study was done to evaluate the demographic profile, risk factors, diagnostic issues and the clinical outcome of patients with uterine sarcomas in the Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Saleha (RIPAS) hospital, a tertiary hospital in Brunei Darussalam. Patients and Methods: All patients with uterine sarcoma registered in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology during a period of ten years (2001 to 2010) were studied. Cases were identified through the Gynaecology Oncology registry and the case notes were retrospectively reviewed. Results: Over this period, there were 156 cases of uterine tumour and of these, 37 cases (23.7%) were uterine sarcoma. The majority were local (n=34, Bruneian 81.1%; 30 Malays and four Chinese) with a mean age of 47.8 years. High risk factors were identified in 29 (78.4%) patients. Abnormal uterine bleeding and mass per abdomen were the most common clinical presentations. A preoperative diagnosis was possible only in five cases (13.5%) and in two patients (5.4%) the diagnosis was suspected during surgery and confirmed by frozen section. At the completion of a five-year follow up in the first five year group (2001 to 2005) 62.5% patients are alive and disease free. There were six deaths from the disease during the entire study period. Conclusion: A high proportion of uterine tumours were uterine sarcoma. The majority of the patients (78.4%) had one or more risk factors. Unlike endometrial carcinoma a preoperative diagnosis is difficult in uterine sarcoma. At the time of this study 70.3% of patients with uterine sarcoma were alive and disease free.

 

Keywords: Clinical outcomes, diagnosis, risk factor, uterine sarcomas

 

Correspondence author: Alice KURIEN, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, RIPAS Hospital, Bandar Seri Begawan BA 1710, Brunei Darussalam.

Tel: +673 2242424, Fax: +673 2242690

E mail: riversideruby@gmail.com

 

Brunei Int Med J. 2012; 8 (5): 231-236

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