Asymptomatic uterine fibroids

It is estimated that at least 50% of fibroids are asymptomatic, but this figure is likely to be an underestimate as it is based on women in whom fibroids are found incidentally during another procedure (e.g. cervical screening), and there is little, if any, data from population studies on the true incidence of fibroids. If a prevalence of 50% by 50 years of age is accepted, a large number of women have asymptomatic fibroids. Working on the cliché, 'if it ain't broken, don't fix it', it may seem surprising that there should be a chapter dedicated to the issue of asymptomatic fibroids, since the simplistic approach might be to leave the asymptomatic fibroids well alone. However, asymptomatic fibroids may become symptomatic in the future, so it may be wiser to treat fibroids before they grow to a size when they become symptomatic, or treatment becomes more challenging, especially in young women who may desire fertility at a later stage, and in view of the fact that many women are starting their families in their mid-thirties when they have a 30% chance of having a fibroid(s). Despite their common occurrence, fibroids are still poorly understood. It is not known why they form in the first place, what determines their number and ultimate size, the best treatment approaches, or the factors that determine which women develop symptoms. Even when women present with disorders such as infertility, pelvic pain and abnormal bleeding, it is not always possible to be certain that a given myoma is not simply an innocent bystander rather than the cause of the symptom. This chapter addresses the challenging issue of what to do when fibroids are diagnosed incidentally. Firstly, there is the need to ascertain that the pelvic mass palpated is indeed a fibroid, and not an early, more sinister tumour, especially if conservative management is adopted. In addition, there is the issue of size, position and potential for becoming symptomatic at a later date. With the availability of uterine-preserving and largely non-invasive treatment modalities, should more asymptomatic, younger women be offered treatment if it is deemed that their fibroids may cause problems as they grow? Where treatment is not offered, is it necessary to follow-up such women, and if so, with what modality of surveillance and how frequently?     

Pathology of uterine fibroids

The pathological appearances of uterine leiomyomas at macroscopic, histological and ultrastructural levels are described and illustrated. Features useful in the differential diagnosis from other uterine spindle cell lesions are included, and an outline is given of the variable features found in different studies of the effects of gonadotrophin hormone releasing hormone analogues on uterine leiomyomas.     

子宫肌瘤复发问题

子宫肌瘤剔除术后复发常见,复发机制不明,复发率可能与肌瘤数目、大小及类型等因素相关。复发性子宫肌瘤的治疗同原发肌瘤,目前尚无有效预防复发的方法及药物,手术同时应评估复发风险,并做好术后指导及随访     

Endoscopic management of uterine fibroids

Uterine fibroids are very common, but their relationship to fertility is still controversial. Data in relation to fibroids and fertility mainly come from retrospective case series and prospective uncontrolled trials. Although some authors advocate prospective controlled studies, it is unlikely that an easy answer will be found due to considerable variations in location, size and number of fibroids, presence of additional infertility factors and variation of surgical techniques. Submucosal fibroids are more likely to be associated with menstrual disorders and subfertility, and hysteroscopic myomectomy has been accepted as the standard treatment for them. Treatment of submucosal fibroids may be associated with better reproductive outcomes. There is bigger controversy over the impact of intramural and subserosal fibroids on fertility. Laparoscopic myomectomy is now used by a large number of groups for removal of these fibroids in selected cases, but still remains a challenging procedure which requires advanced laparoscopic skills. Its advantages over open myomectomy include reduced postoperative pain, shorter hospitalization, quicker recovery, reduced febrile morbidity and blood loss. It may also reduce the risk of postoperative adhesion formation. There are now large numbers of pregnancies following laparoscopic myomectomy and the risk of uterine rupture in future pregnancies seems to be very low with good surgical technique.     

Endoscopic management of uterine fibroids

Uterine fibroids are the most common benign tumours of the uterus. Management depends on the symptoms, location and size of the fibroids, and the patient's desire to conceive. Surgical management of uterine fibroids has changed from laparotomy to minimally invasive surgery. Uterine fibroids are usually asymptomatic and do not require treatment. Laparoscopic myomectomy is the best treatment option for symptomatic women with uterine fibroids who wish to maintain their fertility. The authors' criteria for laparoscopic myomectomy are a fibroid of <15 cm in size, and no more than three fibroids with a size of 5 cm. Compared with laparotomy, laparoscopic myomectomy has the advantages of small incisions, short hospital stay, less postoperative pain, rapid recovery and good assessment of other abdominal organs. Due to the concern of decreased ovarian reserve, uterine artery embolization is not advisable for these women. In addition, it is associated with high risks of miscarriages, preterm delivery and postpartum bleeding. Laparoscopic myolysis causes severe adhesion formation. Women with submucous fibroids receive myomectomy by hysteroscopy. For women who have completed their family, laparoscopic hysterectomy could be performed. Most fibroids can be managed endoscopically either by laparoscopy or hysteroscopy. Surgeon expertise, especially laparoscopic suturing, is crucial. Laparoscopic myomectomy is still the best treatment option for symptomatic women with uterine fibroids who wish to maintain their fertility. Hysteroscopic myomectomy is an established surgical procedure for women with excessive uterine bleeding, infertility or repeated miscarriages.     

Modern management of uterine fibroids

Uterine fibroids are the most common tumor of the reproductive tract in women of reproductive age. Although they are benign tumors that are often asymptomatic, uterine fibroids may cause debilitating symptoms in many women, such as abnormal uterine bleeding, abdominal pain, increased abdominal girth, urinary frequency, constipation, pregnancy loss, dyspareunia, and in some cases infertility. Several approaches are available for the treatment of uterine fibroids. These include pharmacologic options, such as hormonal therapies and gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonists; surgical approaches, such as hysterectomy, myomectomy, myolysis, laparoscopic uterine artery occlusion, magnetic resonance imaging-guided focused ultrasound surgery, and uterine artery embolization. The choice of approach may be dictated by factors such as the patient's desire to become pregnant in the future, the importance of uterine preservation, symptom severity, and tumor characteristics. New treatment options for uterine fibroids would be minimally invasive, have long-term data demonstrating efficacy and safety, have minimal or no incidence of fibroid recurrence, be easy to perform, preserve fertility, and be cost effective. New treatment approaches are under investigation, with the goals of being effective, safe, and less invasive.     

Clinical presentation of uterine fibroids

It is often accepted that fibroids cause a variety of female reproductive problems, such as menorrhagia, pain, infertility, pregnancy loss and pregnancy complications. Understandably, therefore, many 'successful' medical or surgical interventions have been proposed. However, while fibroids are certainly commonly associated with these conditions, it remains unclear whether this is coincidental, because of the high prevalence of fibroids, or causal. In particular, this chapter explores the roles of fibroids in menorrhagia, discussing possible pathophysiological mechanisms and the utility of medical and surgical management. Similarly, the relationship between fibroids and infertility is examined, concluding that fibroids are not causative in the vast majority of cases and thereby questioning the effectiveness of myomectomy as a treatment for infertility. The use of hormone replacement therapy in post-menopausal women with existing fibroids is also discussed, concluding that this is generally safe and appropriate. In pregnancy, it is a commonly held tenet that uterine fibroids enlarge and that they are associated with various adverse outcomes such as miscarriage, placental abruption, fetal growth retardation and Caesarean section. This chapter evaluates the available evidence for this and concludes that, as with infertility, the role of fibroids has been exaggerated. Nonetheless, pregnancy management options are discussed.     

Endoscopic treatment of uterine fibroids

Endoscopic surgery is able to replace most abdominal operations in the surgical treatment of uterine leiomyomas. The use of gonadotrophin hormone-releasing hormone analogues, arterial embolization, hysteroscopy, new techniques of morcellation, laparo-vaginal gasless laparoscopy and laparoscopic mini-laparotomy have enabled the avoidance of laparotomy incisions in most patients. The previous disadvantages of laparoscopy, namely a prolonged operating time, excessive bleeding and inadequate closure, have been overcome. Case and controlled studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of endoscopy in fibroid treatment. The surgical techniques require advanced endoscopic training.     

Endoscopic management of uterine fibroids

Uterine fibroids are very common, but their relationship to fertility is still controversial. Data in relation to fibroids and fertility mainly come from retrospective case series and prospective uncontrolled trials. Although some authors advocate prospective controlled studies, it is unlikely that an easy answer will be found due to considerable variations in location, size and number of fibroids, presence of additional infertility factors and variation of surgical techniques. Submucosal fibroids are more likely to be associated with menstrual disorders and subfertility, and hysteroscopic myomectomy has been accepted as the standard treatment for them. Treatment of submucosal fibroids may be associated with better reproductive outcomes. There is bigger controversy over the impact of intramural and subserosal fibroids on fertility. Laparoscopic myomectomy is now used by a large number of groups for removal of these fibroids in selected cases, but still remains a challenging procedure which requires advanced laparoscopic skills. Its advantages over open myomectomy include reduced postoperative pain, shorter hospitalization, quicker recovery, reduced febrile morbidity and blood loss. It may also reduce the risk of postoperative adhesion formation. There are now large numbers of pregnancies following laparoscopic myomectomy and the risk of uterine rupture in future pregnancies seems to be very low with good surgical technique.     

Embolization of uterine arteries for uterine fibroids: state-of-the-art

Embolization of uterine arteries for fibroids is a modern minimally invasive method for treatment of uterine fibroids. Results from published data show a substantial short-term uterine reduction, an improvement in menorrhagias, and a reduction in fibroid related pain. Hospital stay and recovery are shortened compared with hysterectomy. One randomised comparative trial EAU vs hysterectomy has showed a reduction in hospital stay length and in the rate of major complications, but an increased rate of minor complications. Pregnancies and uneventful deliveries have been reported after uterine arteries embolization. Rare but severe complications have been described. Embolization of uterine arteries can be considered as a safe alternative to hysterectomy or myomectomy in selected cases. It cannot be a routine method for treating fibroids with women of childbearing age.     

Transcatheter uterine artery embolisation to treat large uterine fibroids

Bilateral uterine artery embolisation was performed to treat eight women with symptomatic large fibroids requiring treatment. Uterine volume was quantitatively assessed by magnetic resonance imaging. Both uterine arteries were occluded effectively in all women, and the procedure was well tolerated, with a 24–36 hour admission for pain relief. The level of pain experienced was variable, but well controlled. Some women experienced intermittent vaginal discharge and pain following the procedure. Improvement of symptoms occurred in six of the seven women and the eighth woman conceived. There were no significant complications. At three months four women had a uterine volume of < 350 cm ³ . Embolisation appears to be a good alternative to surgery, but longer follow up is required to evaluate the long term effects and to determine those patients for whom the procedure is suitable.     

Other medical management of uterine fibroids

Several medicines are emerging with the potential to treat symptomatic uterine fibroids. Anti-progesterone compounds seem particularly promising. These drugs have been widely used for nearly 20 years and are known to be safe; medical politics have prevented their proper investigation for uterine fibroids. In particular, the value of mifepristone, 50 mg per day for 3 months, seems particularly promising. Further investigation is clearly warranted for this medicine. Several anti-oestrogen compounds have recently become available and may also be useful for the medical treatment of symptomatic uterine fibroids. This includes the possibility of the use of selective oestrogen receptor modulators as well as the prospect of the use of pure anti-oestrogens. On a longer time frame, inhibitors of angiogenesis may be useful. These medicines would act upon the blood supply to uterine fibroids. Physicians also have an obligation to investigate scientifically any promising naturopathic treatment that appears to have possible activity for symptomatic fibroids.