Perianal leiomyoma involving the anal sphincter.

Abstract

Editor, Leiomyomas are benign soft tissue tumours of mesenchymal origin and can develop wherever smooth muscle is present. Their pathogenesis remains obscure. Deep soft tissue leiomyomas are rare and are further classified as somatic and retroperitoneal. Whereas the former have a predilection to occur in extremities (usually in the thigh) the latter usually occur in the pelvic retroperitoneum1. We report a case of perianal leiomyoma stretching the muscle fibres of the external sphincter. Reports of perianal leiomyomas are sparse in the literature. Features of deep soft tissue leiomyomas, anal leiomyomas and their management are discussed.