A massive intra-abdominal mass - Answers.
- Author:
Ian BICKLE
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- From:Brunei International Medical Journal
2011;7(1):58-58
- CountryBrunei Darussalam
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Refer to page 36)
Answer: Massive uterine fibroid
Uterine fibroids (leiomyomas of the uterus)
are extremely common, typically measuring
2cm to 5cm in size. Fibroids may be either
solitary or multiple, with presenting complaints
of subfertility, dysmenorrhoea, menorrhagia
or pelvic pain. Uterine fibroids are benign
tumours that arise from the overgrowth
of smooth muscle and connective tissue. Histologically,
a monoclonal proliferation of
smooth muscle cells gives rise to these tumours,
which can be hugely variable in size.
Uterine fibroids occur twice as frequently in
black women as in either white or Asian
women and can occur at any time between
menarche and menopause, but are most
common in women 35 to 49 years of age. 1
Fibroids typically resolve after menopause.
Rarely, uterine fibroids may undergo malignant
degeneration to become sarcomatous,
but this is the exception. The incidence of
malignant degeneration is low and has been
estimated to be as low as 0.2%.
