Leiomyomas are benign smooth muscle tumors of the uterus that are quite common. They affect around 25% of white women and 50% of black women by age 30. While the exact cause is unknown, estrogen is known to play a role in their growth. Treatment depends on factors like age, symptoms, and desire for future fertility, and may include expectant management, medical therapy, uterine artery embolization, myomectomy, or hysterectomy. The goal is to control abnormal bleeding or other symptoms while preserving fertility if possible.

1. Noshairwan Ali Khan
Roll. No: 07-128
FinalYear ( Batch I )

2. LEIOMYOMA
What is a leiomyoma?
It is a benign neoplasm of the muscular wall of
the uterus composed primarily of smooth
muscle
What is the incidence of leiomyomas?
They are the most common pelvic tumors
It is found in 25% of white women & 50% of
black women. Age… greater than 30

3. ETIOLOGY
 Unknown
 Each individual myoma is unicellular in origin
 Estogens no evidence that it is a causative factor ,
it has been implicated in growth of myomas
 Myomas contain estrogen receptors in higher
concentration than surrounding myometrium
 Myomas may increase in size with estrogen therapy
& in pregnancy & decrease after menopause
 They are not detectable before puberty
 Progestrone increase mitotic activity & reduce
apoptosis  in size
 There may be genetic predisposition

4. PATHOLOGY
 Frequently multiple
 May reach 15 cm in size or larger
 Firm
 Spherical or irregularly lobulated
 Have a false capsule ( pseudocapsule)
 Can be easily enucleated from surrounding myometrium

5. CLASSIFICATION
 Submucous
leiomyoma
 Pedunculated
submucous
 Intramural or
interstitial
 Subserous or
subperitoneal
 Pedunculated
abdominal
 Parasitic
 Intraligmentary
 Cervical

6. MICROSCOPIC STRUCTURE
 Whorled appearance nonstriated muscle
fibers arranged in bundles running in different
directions
 Individual cells are spindle shaped uniform
 Varying amount of connective tissue are
interlaced between muscle fibers
 Pseudocapsule of areolar tissue & compressed
myometrium
 Arteries are less dense than myometrium & do
not have a regular pattern of distribution
 1-2 major vesseles are found at the base or
pedicle

9. 1-BENIGN DEGENERATION
 Atrophic
 Hyaline  yellow, soft gelatinous areas
 Cystic liquefaction follows extreme hyalinization
 Calcific circulatory deprivation precipitation of ca
carbonate & phosphate
 Septic circulatory deprivation necrosis  infection
 Myxomatous (fatty) uncommon, follows hyaline or cystic
degenration

10. 1-BENIGN DEGENRATION (cont’d)
Red (carneous) degeneration
 Commonly occurs during pregnancy
 Edema & hypertrophy impede blood supply
aseptic degenration & infarction with venous
thrombosis & hemorrhage
 Painful but self-limiting
 May result in preterm labor & rarely DIC
2-MALIGNANTTRANSFORMATION
 Transformation to leiomyosarcomas occurs in
0.1-0.5%

12. 1-SYMPTOMS
 Symptomatic in only 35-50% of Pt
 Symptoms depend on location, size, changes &
pregnancy status
1-Abnormal uterine bleeding
 The most common 30%
 Heavy / prolonged bleeding (menorrhagia) 
iron deficiency anemia

13. 1-Abnormal uterine bleeding (cont’d)
 Submucous myoma produce the most
pronounced symptoms of menorrhagia, pre &
post-menstrual spotting
 Bleeding is due to interruption of blood supply
to the endometrium, distortion & congestion of
surrounding vessels or ulceration of the
overlying endometrium
 Pedunculated submucous  areas of venouse
thrombosis & necrosis on the surface
intermenstrtual bleeding

14. 2-PAIN
 Vascular occlusion  necrosis, infection
 Torsion of a pedunculated fibroid acute pain
 Myometrial contractions to expel the myoma
 Red degenration acute pain
 Heaviness fullness in the pelvic area
 Feeling a mass
 If the tumor gets impacted in the pelvis
pressure on nerves back pain radiating to
the lower extremities
 Dysparunea if it is protruding to vagina

15. 3-PRESSURE EFFECTS
 If large may distort or obstruct other organs like ureters,
bladder or rectum urinary symptoms, hydroureter,
constipation, pelvic venous congestion & LL edema
 Rarely a posterior fundal tumor extreme retroflexion of
the uterus distorting the bladder base urinary retention
 Parasitic tumor may cause bowel obstruction
 Cervical tumors serosanguineous vaginal discharge,
bleeding, dyspareunia or infertility

16. 4-INFERTILITY
 The relationship is uncertain
 27-40% of women with multiple fibroids are
infertile  but other causes of infertility are
present
 Endocavitary tumors affect fertility more
5- SPONTANEOUS ABORTIONS
 ~2X N  incidence before myomectomy 40%
after myomectomy 20%
 More with intracavitary tumors

17. EXAMINTION
 Most myoma are discovered on routine
bimanual pelvic exam or abdominal
examination
 Retroflexed retroverted uterus  obscure the
palpation of myomas
 GPE… pallor
 ABDOMINAL EX… firm, irregularly nodular,
mobile laterally, no tenderness, dull on
percussion
 VAGINAL EX… done for small myomas.

19. LABORATORY FINDINGS
 Anemia
 Depletion of iron reserve
 Rarely erythrocytosis pressure on the
ureters back pressure on the kidneys 
erythropoietin
 Acute degeneration & infection  ESR,
leucocytosis, & fever

20. IMAGING
 Pelvic U/S is very helpful in confirming the Dx &
excluding pregnancy / Particularly in obese Pt
 Saline hysterosonography can identify submucous
myoma that may be missed on U/S
 HSG  will show intrauterine leiomyoma
 MRI  highly accurate in delineating the size,
location & no. of myomas , but not always necessary
 IVP  will show ureteral dilatation or deviation &
urinary anomalies
HYSTROSCOPY  for identification & removal of
submucous myomas

22. DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSIS
 Usually easily diagnosed
 Exclude pregnancy
 Exclude other pelvic masses
-Ovarian Ca
-Tubo-ovarian abscess
-Endometriosis
-Adenexa, omentum or bowel adherent to the uterus
 Exclude other causes of uterine enlargement:
-Adenomyosis
-Myometrial hypertrophy
-Congenital anomalies
-Endometrial Ca

23. DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSIS
Exclude other causes of abnormal bleeding
 Endometrial hyperplasia
 Endometrial or tubal Ca
 Uterine sarcoma
 Ovarian Ca
 Polyps
 Adenomyosis
 DUB
 Endometriosis
 Exogenouse estrogens
Endometrial biopsy or D&C is essential in the evaluation of
abnormal bleeding to exclude endometrial Ca

25. DEGENERATION
 ATROPHIC (decrease in size, but do not
disappear) due to estrogen withdrawl
 HYALINE ( loses typical whorl appearance,
tumour look homogenous & glossy area
microscopically)
 CYSTIC (hyaline cystic)
 Septic degeneration
 Red generation ( seen during pregnancy and
puerperium , occurs due to thrombosis of veins,
becomes soft)

26. SARCOMATOUS CHANGE
 Very rare
 0.1% of cases
 Starts in the center of tumour
 Any size or type of myoma can undergo
sarcomatous change
 Malignant change suspected when:
 Rapid increase in size
 Painful
 tender

27. INFECTION
 Submucous or subserous myoma if lies near an
inflammed organ… Infection
 More common in the ones that have undergone
necrosis
 Infection occurs:
 During puerperium
 After abortion
 Inflammed appendix
 Diverticulum

28. TORSION
 Pedunculated Subserous Myoma….Torsion
 Sudden attack of pain
 Increase in size
 Tenderness
 Difficult to differentiate from red
degeneration or torsion of ovarian cyst

29. Myomas are rarely seen associated with pregnancy (3%)
Commonly seen in an elderly primigravida…….

30. Effects of Myomas on pregnancy
 ABORTION (risk is high)
 PREMATURE LABOUR
 MALPRESENTATION
 DURING LABOUR:
 Abnormal uterine action
 Cervical dystocia ( interfernce in dilation of
cervix)
 Obstructed labour
 Retained placenta

31.  Postpartum haemorrhage
 DURING PUERPERIUM:
 Puerperal sepsis
 Delayed involution of uterus

32. Effects of Pregnancy on Myomas
 INCREASE IN SIZE: Due to congestion
oedema of tumour, after this comes back to
original size)
 CHANGE IN CONSISTENCY: Become Soft
due to congestion & oedema
 RED DEGENERATION
 TORSION
 INFECTION

34. TREATMENT
DEPENDS ON:
 Age
 Parity
 Pregnancy status
 Desire for future pregnancy
 General health
 Symptoms
 Size
 Location

35. TREATMENT METHODS
 EXPECTANT TREATMENT
 MEDICALTREATMENT
 UTERINE ARTERY EMBOLISATION (UAE)
 MYOMECTOMY
 HYSTERECTOMY

37.  Adviced to women approaching to
menopause
 When there are no symptoms
 Small in size
 No complications
 Patient is kept under observation
 Examined at 6th
monthly interval
 Increase in size seen then surgical
intervention is done

39. 1.GENERAL HEALTH MEASURES
 PATIENT MAY BE ANEMIC
 DUETO MENORRHAGIA
 ANEMIA SHOULD BE CORRECTED
 INTURN GENERAL HEALTH IS IMPROVED

40. 2. GNRH Analogues
RX results in:
1- size of the myomas 50% maximum
2-This shrinkage is achieved in 3M of RX
3-Amenorrhea & hypoestrogenic side-effects occur
4-Osteopososis may occur if Rx last > 6M
It is indicated for
1- bleeding from myoma except for the polypoid
submucous type
2-Preoperative to  size  allow for vaginal hysterectomy
myomectomy
laparoscopic myomectomy

41.  3-6 months Rx … size of myomas
(temporary)
 Suppression of ovaries ( size reduction of
myomas)
 Expensive
 Effects are short lived
 Side effects include osteoporosis ( temporary
menopause)

42. 3.DANAZOL, ANTIPROGESTERONES
(MIFEPRISTONE, RU486)
 Temporary relief of symptoms
 Results are not consistent
 RU 486 is given for a long period of
time

44.  Uterine artery occlusion
 Particulate emboli (polyvinyl Alcohol PVA)
 Ischaemic necrosis of fibroids
 Size reduction
 Approached by trans-femoral route
 COMPLICATIONS
 Failure to canalize uterne arteries
 Haematoma
 Pain
 infection

47.  Removal of myomas
 Conservation of uterus
 Abdominal or vaginal route
 INDICATIONS
 Less than 40 years than myomectomy is
chosen rather than hysterectomy
 If she wants conservation of reproductive
function
 Unexplained infertility

48.  Repeated pregnancy loss
 Increase in size of tumor
 CONTRAINDICATIONS
 Associated carcinoma of endometrium,
treatment is direct to malignancy rather than
myomectomy
 If suspicion of sarcomatous change..
 Pregnancy

49. Complications of myomectomy
 Haemorrhage
 Sepsis
 Pelvic vein thrombosis
 Persistent symptoms (menorrhagia may
persist)
 Recurrence
 Haemorrhage
 Sepsis
 Pelvic vein thrombosis
 Persistent symptoms (menorrhagia may
persist)
 Recurrence

50. HYSTERECTOMY

51.  Above 40 years
 Completed the family
 TYPES
 VAGINAL
 LAPROSCOPIC

52. VAGINAL HYSTERECTOMY
 If size of uterus is less than 12 weeks of
gestation
 Myomas growing in….. Broad ligament or
distorting local anatomy than abdominal
hysterectomy is done

53. ABDOMINAL OR LAPROSCOPIC
HYSTERECTOMY
 Healthy ovaries are preserved under 40 years
or even above
 Only removed when ovaries are diseased
 Performed when:
 More than 12 weeks of gestation
 Distortion of anatomy
 Associated disease (endrometriosis, PID)