complications
Last reviewed 10/2022
- hyaline degeneration - the most common change observed in fibroids; the fibrous and muscle tissues are replaced by hyaline tissue
- cystic degeneration - usually after the menopause; due to liquefaction of areas of hyaline tissue
- red or carneous degeneration - an acute degenerative process caused by haemorrhage into the tumour; affects half of all fibroids during pregnancy
- fatty degeneration - usually at, or after, the menopause
- calcification - particularly after the menopause; usually preceded by fatty change. In advanced cases, the whole tumour becomes a calcareous mass - so called "womb stone"
- atrophy - occurs after the menopause; but large tumours may show only a small reduction in size
- torsion - produces severe pain
- secondary infection of a necrotic fibroid
- sarcomatous change - occurs rarely - studies have revealed an incidence of uterine sarcoma of about 0.2% in patients operated on for presumed fibroids (1,2)
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