Research on genesis of adipocytic metaplasia in uterine fibroids

The genesis of lipoleiomyoma has not been explained yet. Immunohistochemical examinations were performed on 17 lipoleiomyomas in women aged 43-82 (mean age: 51 ±9 years). Four types of myomas were distinguished: 1) pure leiomyoma, 2) fibroleiomyoma, 3) hyalinizing leiomyoma, 4) strongly hyalinized myoma, along with three degrees of progression of adipocytic metaplasia: 1) up to 25% of lipocytes, 2) up to 50% of lipocytes, and 3) over 50% of lipocytes in the analyzed sample, along with three degrees of progression of adipocytic metaplasia: 1) up to 25% of lipocytes, 2) up to 50% of lipocytes, and 3) over 50% of lipocytes in the analyzed sample.

A positive correlation was found between the age of women and rate of development of metaplasia (r = 0.51, p = 0.035) as well as with activity of the estrogen receptor in the primary tumor (r = 0.53, p = 0.03).

New mucous perivascular tissue was reported among 11.8% of patients and on this basis lipocytes were formed.

The appearance of subendothelial granular cells of large blood vessels with a positive reaction for smooth muscle actin (SMA) and CD68 was reported in 17.7%.

Results of immunohistochemical research seem to confirm that lipocytes de novo come from the primal pluripotent cells of the tumor stroma and not from the fatty degeneration of myocytes.