fibroids

Last edited 12/2020 and last reviewed 10/2022

Fibroids (also known as uterine leiomyomas or myomas) are the most common benign gynaecological tumour.

  • they are monoclonal tumours of the smooth muscle cells of the uterine myometrium
  • disorderd myofibroblasts  buried  in a large amount of extracellular matrix forms a hard, round, whorled tumour  
  • may be single or multiple with the tumour size varying from few millimetres to 30 cm or more (1,2)
  • have minimal malignant potential but may grow to enormous size (1,2)

The incidence of uterine fibroids increases with age.

  • in a randomised study carried out in women between the ages of 35-49 years, nearly 70% of white women and more than 80% of black women have had at least one fibroid by the age of 50 years (1)
  • 11880 Canadian women between the ages of 20-49 years who were screened for fibroids reported that 12% had been diagnosed with uterine fibroids (including 3.2% reporting current fibroid) (2)

Cause of fibroids is still unclear, but there is certainly a multi-causal origin

  • hormonal factors (ovarian steroid hormones oestrogen, progesterone), genetic factors, growth factors, and the molecular biology of these benign tumours all appear to play a role (3)
  • oestrogen is thought to promote fibroid development and growth
  • studies have suggested that progesterone may also enhance the growth of fibroids

Majority are asymptomatic and do not require treatment. However, some may cause menorrhagia, infertility and dystocia.
Symptoms attributable to fibroids can generally be classified in three distinct categories:

  • abnormal uterine bleeding, pelvic pressure (urinary frequency, constipation) and pain, and reproductive dysfunction (subfertility, miscarriage)
    • prolonged or excessively heavy menstruation is the common bleeding pattern of fibroids
    • pelvic pressure is caused by pressure on adjacent organs

Most fibroids shrink after menopause since the growth is dependent on the ovarian steroids oestrogen and progesterone

A diagnosis of fibroids may be suspected, based on palpation of an enlarged, irregular uterine contour on pelvic examination

  • ultrasonography is typically used to confirm the diagnosis and to exclude the possibility of ovarian neoplasm
  • sonohysterography, or diagnostic hysteroscopy is considered to distinguish submucosal fibroids and other intrauterine lesions
  • magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) gives better visualisation of individual fibroids

Reference:

Related pages:

classification

aetiology

clinical features

differential diagnosis

investigations

complications

management

fibroids in pregnancy