Gynecology - Uterine Leiomyoma(fibroids), endometrial cancer and endometrial hyperplasia Flashcards
What is a uterine leiomyoma?
Benign smooth muscle neoplasm originating from the myometrial cells. Usually clinically insignificant, but very common.
What is the most common benign tumor in women?
Uterine leiomyoma
What does a uterine leyiomyoma look like?
Gross: Elliptical, pearly white and firm, of a rubbery consistency and covered by a distinct connective tissue.
Histo: Elongated smooth muscle cells aggregated in bundles. Minimal to no mitotic activity. Lack of vascular organization.
What are Leiomyomas sensitive to?
Estrogen and Progesterone
What is characteristics of leiomyoma considering its environment?
It creates a hyperestrogenic environment. Relative to normal myometrium:
- Leiomyoma cells contain more estrogen receptors
- Leiomyoma cells convert less estradiol to estrone
- Leiomyoma cells contain more aromatase enzyme
Risk factors of uterine leiomyoma?
- Women in mid-age
- Black race
- Primary relative hx
- Overweight
- Early menarche
- PCOS
! Risk DECREASES with parity, giving birth at an early age, and likely decreases with use of COCs !
Symptoms of uterine leiomyoma?
Most are asymptomatic.
- Menorrhagia w/pelvic pressure (most common)
- Dysmenorrhea
- Chronic pelvic comfort
- Acute pain less common, but can happen
- Can cause infertility
What happens if there is a sudden pelvic pain in leiomyoma?
Due to degeneration of a leiomyoma
Types of degeneration of uterine leyiomyoma?
- Hyaline
- Liquefaction
- Mucoid
- Fatty
- Red (carneous)
- Calcification
- Sarcomatous (malignant)
Uterine leiomyoma on physical examination?
Uterine enlargement w/irregular contour. Should be nontender or minimally tender.
Sonography is the imaging modality of choice. Leiomyomas may be hyperechoic or hypoechoic, but they will appear as discrete masses.
Medically managing uterine leiomyoma
As most fibroid are minimally symptomatic, they may be managed by pt education and annual surveillance.
Medical therapy:
- NSAIDS for dysmenorrhea/pain
- COCs for pain, menorrhagia
- LNG-IUS (Mirena) for pain, menorrhagia
- GnRH agonists are effective for a variety of fibroid-related sx.
Surgically managing
- Uterine artery embolization
- Myomectomy (may be performed laporascopically, hysteroscopically, or open) - Particularly used if fertility is the main issue of concern.
- Hysterectomy.
What is the most common cancer of the female genital tract?
Endometrial cancer
What is the most common type of endometrial carcinoma?
Adenocarcinomas (75%). These arise from endometrial hyperplasia caused by a hyperestrogenic environment.
Risk factors for endometrial carcinoma?
- Hyperestrogenism
- High dose menopausal estrogens (10-22x RR)
- Obesity (2-4x)
- Nulliparity (2x)
- Early menarche
- Late menopause
- Use of tamoxifen
- PCOS - Medical conditions: type 2 DM, hypertension, gllbladder disease, lynch syndrome
- White race
- Higher SES
- Older age