Fibroids Flashcards
Fibroids, also known as leiomyomas, are benign smooth muscle tumours of the uterus. How common are uterine fibroids?
1 - 20 cases per 100,000
2 - 200 cases per 100,000
3 - 2000 cases per 100,000
4 - 20,000 cases per 100,000
3 - 2000 cases per 100,000
- most common type of tumour in females
Leio = smooth
myo = muscle
mas = tumour
At what age does the incidence of fibroids peak?
1 - 20-40
2 - 30-50
3 - 40-50
4 - 50-70
3 - 40-50
Are fibroids more common in caucasians or black women?
- black women
50% of black women
20% in caucasians
Although the exact cause of fibroids is unknown, which hormone is fibroid growth associated with?
1 - testosterone
2 - progesterone
3 - oestrogen
4 - all androgens
3 - oestrogen
Which ligaments anchor the uterus to the sacrum?
1 - ovarian ligaments
2 - uterosacral ligaments
3 - round ligaments
4 - cardinal ligaments
2 - uterosacral ligaments
Which ligaments anchor the uterus to the anterior wall of the abdomen?
1 - ovarian ligaments
2 - uterosacral ligaments
3 - round ligaments
4 - cardinal ligaments
3 - round ligaments
Which ligaments anchor the uterus laterally?
1 - ovarian ligaments
2 - uterosacral ligaments
3 - round ligaments
4 - cardinal ligaments
4 - cardinal ligaments
- broad ligament and mesentary also anchor here
Which of the following is NOT one of the 3 main layers of the uterus?
1 - endometrium
2 - myometrium
3 - fundometrium
4 - perimetrium
3 - fundometrium
perimetrium = continuous layer of peritoneum cavity
Do fibroids begin from monoclonal or polyclonal cells?
- monoclonal
- single cell of myometrium proliferates uncontrollably
Although the exact cause of fibroids is likely to be multifactorial, genetics have bee linked with fibroids. Which genetic mutation has been linked with fibroids?
1 - MED-12
2 - BRAF V600E
3 - BRCA1
4 - MEN
1 - MED-12
Involved in RNA polymerase II and affects upregulation of transcription factors
In addition to be sensitive to oestrogen and progesterone (especially oestrogen) what else do fibroids secrete that can then increase levels of oestrogen?
1 - testosterone
2 - aromatase
3 - dehydroepiandrosterone
4 - dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate
2 - aromatase
Enzymes that converts androgens into oestrogen
Fibroids are sensitive to oestrogen and progesterone and when binding to fibroids they induce mitosis. Which growth factors are they able to upregulate?
1 - IGF-1
2 - EGFR
3 - TGF-B1
4 - all of the above
4 - all of the above
Which of the following is NOT a risk factor for developing fibroids?
1 - pre-menopausal
2 - post-menopausal
3 - pregnancy
4 - never being pregnant
5 - high number of menustrations
2 - post-menopausal
- typically get smaller or stop growing
All others are associated with high levels of hormones
An old risk factors was diethylstilbestrol, an estrogen medication that used to be given to pregnant women.
Are fibroids always symptomatic?
- no
Fibroids can cause all of the following EXCEPT which one of the following?
1 - menorrhagia (irregular bleeding)
2 - lower abdominal pain: cramping pains, often during menstruation
3 - bloating
4 - urinary symptoms, e.g. frequency, may occur with larger fibroids
5 - dyspareunia
6 - subfertility
5 - dyspareunia
- may occur, but not as common as other clinical presentations
All of the following are types of fibroids and is determined by their location, but which is the most common?
1 - subserosal fibroids
2 - intramural fibroid
3 - submucosal fibroids
4 - cervical fibroids
2 - intramural fibroid
- inside the walls of the uterus
Subserosal = myometrium cells in the perimetrium
Submucosal = cells below endometrium
