Overview
Disseminated peritoneal leiomyomatosis (DPL) is a very rare, non-cancerous condition in which smooth muscle tissue grows in many places throughout the lining of the abdomen (called the peritoneum). These growths, called leiomyomas, are benign tumors made of smooth muscle cells. The condition is also sometimes called leiomyomatosis peritonealis disseminata (LPD). While the tumors are not cancer, they can spread widely across the abdominal cavity, covering surfaces of organs like the bowel, liver, and uterus. Most people diagnosed with DPL are women of reproductive age, and the condition is strongly linked to hormones — especially estrogen and progesterone. Many cases are discovered during pregnancy or while a woman is taking hormonal contraceptives. Symptoms can include abdominal pain, bloating, and a feeling of fullness or pressure in the belly. In some cases, the condition causes no symptoms at all and is found by accident during surgery or imaging for another reason. Treatment depends on how severe the condition is. In many women, the tumors shrink or disappear after pregnancy ends or hormonal medications are stopped. In other cases, surgery to remove the growths or hormone-blocking medications may be needed. Rarely, the condition can behave more aggressively, and close monitoring is important. Overall, the outlook for most patients is good, especially when the hormonal trigger is identified and addressed.
Key symptoms:
Abdominal pain or crampingBloating or swelling of the bellyFeeling of fullness or pressure in the abdomenNauseaConstipation or changes in bowel habitsPelvic painFatigueAccidental discovery during abdominal surgery (no symptoms)Abdominal mass felt by a doctor during examination
Sporadic
Usually appears on its own, not inherited from a parent
Adult
Begins in adulthood (age 18 or older)
FDA & Trial Timeline
6 eventsUniversity Hospital, Basel, Switzerland — PHASE1
Mayo Clinic — NA
Beijing Children's Hospital — PHASE4
The First Affiliated Hospital of University of South China — NA
Dr. Schär AG / SPA — NA
Zhijun Bao
Data sourced from FDA regulatory filings and ClinicalTrials.gov. Updated periodically.
Treatments
No FDA-approved treatments are currently listed for Disseminated peritoneal leiomyomatosis.
View clinical trials →Clinical Trials
View all trials with filters →No actively recruiting trials found for Disseminated peritoneal leiomyomatosis at this time.
New trials open frequently. Follow this disease to get notified.
Specialists
View all specialists →No specialists are currently listed for Disseminated peritoneal leiomyomatosis.
Treatment Centers
8 centersBaylor College of Medicine Rare Disease Center ↗
Baylor College of Medicine
📍 Houston, TX
🏥 NORDStanford Medicine Rare Disease Center ↗
Stanford Medicine
📍 Stanford, CA
🔬 UDNNIH Clinical Center Undiagnosed Diseases Program ↗
National Institutes of Health
📍 Bethesda, MD
🔬 UDNUCLA UDN Clinical Site ↗
UCLA Health
📍 Los Angeles, CA
🔬 UDNBaylor College of Medicine UDN Clinical Site ↗
Baylor College of Medicine
📍 Houston, TX
🔬 UDNHarvard/MGH UDN Clinical Site ↗
Massachusetts General Hospital
📍 Boston, MA
🏥 NORDMayo Clinic Center for Individualized Medicine ↗
Mayo Clinic
📍 Rochester, MN
👤 Mayo Clinic Center for Individualized Medicine
🏥 NORDUCLA Rare Disease Day Program ↗
UCLA Health
📍 Los Angeles, CA
Travel Grants
No travel grants are currently matched to Disseminated peritoneal leiomyomatosis.
Community
No community posts yet. Be the first to share your experience with Disseminated peritoneal leiomyomatosis.
Start the conversation →Latest news about Disseminated peritoneal leiomyomatosis
Disease timeline:
New recruiting trial: Understanding the Mechanisms of Clonal and Non-clonal Cytopenia Following CAR-T Therapy for Multiple Myeloma or CD19+ Lymphoproliferative Disorder (LPD)
A new clinical trial is recruiting patients for Disseminated peritoneal leiomyomatosis
New recruiting trial: Direct Comparison of Altered States of Consciousness Induced by LSD, Psilocybin, and DMT in Healthy Participants
A new clinical trial is recruiting patients for Disseminated peritoneal leiomyomatosis
New recruiting trial: Improved Myeloablative Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation Protocol for the Treatment of Epstein Barr Virus T/NK Lymphoproliferative Disease (EBV-T/NK LPD) and Prevention of Post Transplant Graft-versus-host Disease
A new clinical trial is recruiting patients for Disseminated peritoneal leiomyomatosis
New recruiting trial: Low-Protein Diet With Low-Protein Foods Versus a LPD Without LP Foods in Patients With Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD)
A new clinical trial is recruiting patients for Disseminated peritoneal leiomyomatosis
Caregiver Resources
NORD Caregiver Resources
Support, advocacy, and financial assistance for caregivers of rare disease patients.
Mental Health Support
Rare disease caregiving can be isolating. Connect with counseling and peer support.
Family & Caregiver Grants
Financial assistance programs specifically for caregivers of rare disease patients.
Social Security Disability
Learn how rare disease patients may qualify for SSDI/SSI benefits.
Questions for your doctor
Bring these to your next appointment
- Q1.Is my DPL likely related to hormones, and should I stop my current hormonal medication?,Do I need surgery, or can we watch and wait to see if the tumors shrink on their own?,How often should I have follow-up imaging or check-ups to monitor for changes?,Is there any risk that my tumors could become cancerous, and how would we detect that early?,Will this condition affect my ability to get pregnant in the future?,What symptoms should prompt me to seek emergency care?,Are there any clinical trials or specialists in rare smooth muscle tumors I should see?
Common questions about Disseminated peritoneal leiomyomatosis
What is Disseminated peritoneal leiomyomatosis?
Disseminated peritoneal leiomyomatosis (DPL) is a very rare, non-cancerous condition in which smooth muscle tissue grows in many places throughout the lining of the abdomen (called the peritoneum). These growths, called leiomyomas, are benign tumors made of smooth muscle cells. The condition is also sometimes called leiomyomatosis peritonealis disseminata (LPD). While the tumors are not cancer, they can spread widely across the abdominal cavity, covering surfaces of organs like the bowel, liver, and uterus. Most people diagnosed with DPL are women of reproductive age, and the condition is str
How is Disseminated peritoneal leiomyomatosis inherited?
Disseminated peritoneal leiomyomatosis follows a sporadic inheritance pattern. Genetic counseling can help families understand recurrence risk and testing options.
At what age does Disseminated peritoneal leiomyomatosis typically begin?
Typical onset of Disseminated peritoneal leiomyomatosis is adult. Age of onset can vary across affected individuals.