Gastrointestinal tumors are a common problem that has recently attracted the attention of doctors from around the world. Benign neoplasms do not threaten the patient’s health, but require timely treatment. Such pathologies include gastric leiomyoma. The main causes, symptoms and methods of treating the disease will be discussed in this article.
General information
Stomach leiomyoma is a benign mass consisting of smooth muscle cells. Its size can vary from 2 to 5 cm. The tumor has clear boundaries and a flat surface. Pathology is characterized by an asymptomatic course. For several years, the patient may not be aware of health problems. An increase in tumor size is usually accompanied by severe pain, bleeding. A similar clinical picture is a signal for surgery and removal of pathology.
Benign formations develop gradually. They do not spread to other organs and do not exert pressure on the tissues. Therefore, many ignore the symptoms of leiomyomas and neglect timely treatment. The absence of therapy, as well as the impact of a number of unfavorable factors contributes to the transformation of the tumor into a malignant formation. Otherwise, this disease is called leiomyosarcoma.
Causes of tumor formation
Any violation in the body has its own reasons. The trigger mechanism for tumor formation, including benign, are certain negative factors. Among them, the following have the greatest impact on the human body:
- The inclusion of fatty, spicy and fried foods in the diet.
- Electromagnetic and radiation radiation.
- Intoxication of the body with chemicals.
- Inflammatory diseases of the stomach.
- Failure of the immune system.
- Alcohol abuse and smoking.
- Frequent depression, psycho-emotional overload.
- Hereditary predisposition.
Leiomyoma of the stomach belongs to the category of slowly progressive tumors. From the moment of formation until the onset of the first symptoms, more than six months can pass. Therefore, it is very difficult to determine the cause of its development. Sometimes a disease occurs under the influence of several factors simultaneously.
Signs of a pathological process
The disease is characterized by an asymptomatic course. The appearance of the first signs of leiomyoma signals the beginning of the ulceration process, when the pathology turns into a life-threatening form. The timeliness of a patient's visit to a doctor determines the duration of treatment and the prognosis for the future. Therefore, it is not worth waiting for a relief of the condition and hoping for an independent resolution of the problem. The most common symptoms for leiomyoma of the stomach include:
- dizziness, weakness, general malaise;
- pallor of the skin;
- the appearance of blood impurities in the feces;
- weight loss;
- "Hungry pains" at night.
Diagnostic Methods
Check the state of the digestive tract during the annual medical examination. Given the asymptomatic course of leiomyoma, patients with gastrointestinal disorders should pay special attention to medical examination.
The appearance of signs of the disease requires you to consult a gastroenterologist. If a benign tumor is suspected, the specialist initially collects the patient’s history, asks a number of clarifying questions. Then he proceeds to instrumental diagnostics, which usually includes radiography, CT and gastroduodenoscopy. A complete medical examination makes it possible to identify the formation, determine its exact location and nature. Based on the results, the gastroenterologist prescribes a course of therapy, and also gives his recommendations to the patient on nutrition.
Tumor Treatment Methods
The tactics of treating the disease are chosen by the doctor, given the shape and location of the neoplasm. The most effective method is the surgical removal of gastric leiomyoma. Conservative therapy rarely produces the desired results.
To remove a small formation (up to 3 cm), an endoscope is used, followed by freezing of the pathological areas. Cryoprocedures inhibit the growth of the tumor, can completely destroy diseased cells. A different approach requires a large (over 3 cm) gastric leiomyoma. Treatment involves abdominal surgery, in which the surgeon excises 2 cm of healthy tissue from the border of the tumor. With malignancy of the neoplasm, an oncologist should be consulted. The course of therapy in this case is selected individually.
Treatment after surgery
After removal of the neoplasm, the patient is prescribed drug therapy. Its main goal is to reduce the inflammatory process, to prevent the development of complications. Typically, patients are prescribed drugs that are responsible for reducing the production of hydrochloric acid, and antibiotics. The use of the latter is due to the etiology of the disease - the presence of the bacterium Helicobacter pylori.
In the recovery period after surgery, it is important for the patient to ensure peace. In the next 3-6 months, intense physical activity and stress are contraindicated. At this time, you can not play sports, overeat, return to addictions. It is better to forget about the latter until the end of life. A special role in the rehabilitation period belongs to the diet. We will discuss this later in the article.
Alternative medicine
One of the components of treatment is proper nutrition. With gastric leiomyoma, it is important to adhere to all the doctor's recommendations, including after recovery. What products are banned? At the time of treatment, fried and fatty foods, which can irritate the gastric mucosa, should be excluded from the diet. It is also necessary to abandon the "heavy" products (mushrooms, meat). Alcohol and coffee are prohibited. Useful for the stomach will be various cereals, vegetable puree, low-fat varieties of meat and fish. An alternative to tea can be herbal preparations.
Herbal medicine has proven itself on a positive side among patients diagnosed with gastric leiomyoma. Treatment with folk remedies can be prescribed by a doctor, taking into account the stage of the pathological process and the age of the patient. With benign tumors, alternative medicine recommends taking vegetable juices, decoctions with sea buckthorn and pine. Once again, it must be noted that the prescriptions of folk healers cannot act as an alternative to surgical or medical treatment. Usually they are used as a supplement when the recovery phase begins.
Disease prognosis
What is gastric leiomyoma prognosis? In most cases, it is favorable. However, the insidiousness of this disease must be taken into account. The pathological process can quickly transform into a malignant one under the influence of aggressive factors. Therefore, in this matter, an important role is given to timely diagnosis of the tumor, competent treatment.
The most effective way to combat the disease is surgery. According to statistics, the risk of relapse after surgery is minimal. If at the stage of diagnosis the malignant nature of the tumor is determined, a course of chemotherapy is prescribed. In this situation, five-year survival is observed in 25% of cases.
Preventive measures
Leiomyoma of the stomach is a serious problem that requires competent treatment. Over time, it can degenerate and become a threat to human health. Therefore, it is important to periodically undergo a routine examination, especially for people who have crossed the milestone of 50 years. To prevent a pathological process in the digestive system, doctors recommend eating properly. Quitting smoking and drinking alcohol is another component of the prevention of leiomyoma. Inflammatory diseases of the stomach cannot be started. Timely treatment is the key to a quick recovery and the absence of relapse. If gastric leiomyoma has already been removed, the operation was successful, it is recommended that a gastroscopic examination be performed every six months. Be healthy!