Incidentally Discovered Uterine Leiomyoma with Ossification on Autopsy

Ossification of leiomyoma is a rare phenomenon occurring in long-standing tumors. In the case reported herein, a 69-year-old postmenopausal female died due to burn injury. In the course of the medico-legal autopsy, a stony hard uterus with yellowish streaks was found. Histologically there was extensively calcified myometrium with areas of ossification, with smooth muscle fibers being arranged in whorled fascicles in the background. A diagnosis of leiomyoma uterii with extensive calcification and ossification was reached. To our knowledge this is the second reported case of post-mortem diagnosis of an ossified leiomyoma. This case underlines the importance of the autopsy not only as a means to find the cause of an individual's death, but also as a tool for furtherance of knowledge to medical fraternity.