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NetWellness provides the highest quality health information and education services created and evaluated by faculty of our partner universities.
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
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NetWellness provides the highest quality health information and education services created and evaluated by faculty of our partner universities.
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
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Gynecology |
Diagnosis of Fibroid Cancer?07/23/2003 11:04AM |
Is there a way to determine if a large fibroid is cancerous, short of a hysterectomy? Is biopsy possible? Would an MRI give an indication?Background: Last winter, began bleeding VERY heavily, almost non-stop, with cramps and big clots; became anemic; 10 days of provera didn`t stop bleeding. Ultrasound showed enlarged uterus and a fibroid which had grown over 9 years, from 3.8x3.4 in `94 to 6.4x6 in `03, and indicated thickened endometrium. Immediate abdominal hysterectomy strongly recommended by MD. Asked for cancer check first. Attempts at endometrial biopsy failed. Asked for diagnostic D&C; was told procedure wouldn`t help condition. Hystereoscope / D&C discovered and removed large uterine polyp (misread as thickened endometrium) in March; all benign.
Symptoms have disappeared entirely! Periods regular, and for me, very light, little pain, no pressure. MD still advises hysterectomy for cancer-threat of growing fibroid. Want to avoid major abdominal surgery if cancer not present.
(Age 48, no pregnancies, overwieght but not obese, no other health issues; periods began at 11; history of heavy periods since age 15.)
Many, many thanks,
The only true way to diagnose or rule out cancer of a fibroid is with a surgical specimen via hysterectomy or myomectomy (removal of a fibroid). Having said that, the incidence of a fibroid being cancerous is very small (less than 1%). The recommendations for hysterectomy because of the concern of cancer is based on a rapidly enlarging uterus. The uterus is measured in "weeks gestation" which means the uterus is compared to the the size of a pregnant uterus. The definition of a rapid enlargement is a uterus that increases by 6 weeks in one year. Your fibroid has not even come close to that. The enlargement you experienced is normal. Since I don`t know your specific case, only your doctor can explain what about your case concerns him that cancer is a possibility.
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Thomas A deHoop, MD Associate Professor Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology College of Medicine University of Cincinnati |
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