leiomyoma uteri, a benign neoplasm of the smooth muscle of the uterus. The tumor is characteristically firm, well-circumscribed, round, and gray-white. Histologically a pattern of whorls is present. Tumors of this kind develop in the myometrium and occur in women between 30 and 50 years of age. They are usually small but may grow quite large and occupy most of the uterine wall. Symptoms vary according to the location and size of the tumors. As they grow, they may cause pressure on neighboring organs, painful menstruation, profuse and irregular menstrual bleeding, vaginal discharge, or frequent urination, as well as enlargement of the uterus. In pregnancy, the tumors may interfere with natural enlargement of the uterus with the growing fetus. Also called fibroid, fibromyoma uteri, myoma previum.
