Myomectomy during pregnancy: an obstetric overview and two case-series

Review on Symptomatic pedunculated leiomyomas in pregnancy with special consideration of an example case

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS

Symptomatic pedunculated leiomyomas in pregnancy; review of the literature with special consideration of an example case.

STUDY DESIGN

Retrospective narrative review with an example case.

METHODS

Systematic evaluation of 37 reports.

EXAMPLE CASE

A 36-year-old Caucasian primigravida was referred symptomatic at 16 + 0 weeks due to a 13,5 cm myoma causing pain, constipation, urine retention and dysesthesias. Our patient underwent myomectomy at 17 + 0 weeks. One pedunculated leiomyoma was successfully removed.

CONCLUSION

Myomectomy can be performed and is safe for pedunculated fibroids in pregnancy. Depending on the clinical scenario, surgical removal may be indicated. Based on the size of the fibroids and expected adhesions, a laparotomy is a safe option and is not a contraindication for vaginal birth in the case of pedunculated fibroids. Myomas larger than 10 cm should be removed by laparotomy.

Management of Uterine Fibroids and Sarcomas: The Palermo Position Paper

BACKGROUND

Uterine fibroids are benign monoclonal tumors originating from the smooth muscle cells of the myometrium, constituting the most prevalent pathology within the female genital tract. Uterine sarcomas, although rare, still represent a diagnostic challenge and should be managed in centers with adequate expertise in gynecological oncology.

OBJECTIVES

This article is aimed to summarize and discuss cutting-edge elements about the diagnosis and management of uterine fibroids and sarcomas.

METHODS

This paper is a report of the lectures presented in an expert meeting about uterine fibroids and sarcomas held in Palermo in February 2023.

OUTCOME

Overall, the combination of novel molecular pathways may help combine biomarkers and expert ultrasound for the differential diagnosis of uterine fibroids and sarcomas. On the one hand, molecular and cellular maps of uterine fibroids and matched myometrium may enhance our understanding of tumor development compared to histologic analysis and whole tissue transcriptomics, and support the development of minimally invasive treatment strategies; on the other hand, ultrasound imaging allows in most of the cases a proper mapping the fibroids and to differentiate between benign and malignant lesions, which need appropriate management.

CONCLUSIONS AND OUTLOOK

The choice of uterine fibroid management, including pharmacological approaches, surgical treatment, or other strategies, such as high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU), should be carefully considered, taking into account the characteristics of the patient and reproductive prognosis.

Outcomes of Laparotomic Myomectomy during Pregnancy for Symptomatic Uterine Fibroids: A Prospective Cohort Study

Background: The incidence of pregnant women with uterine fibroids is increasing. As they are reactive to hormonal stimuli, in some cases, uterine fibroids tend to grow during pregnancy and potentially generate symptoms with different levels of severity, causing maternal-fetal complications. In very select cases, when other treatment strategies fail to manage symptoms and there is a substantial risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes, a surgical approach during pregnancy may be considered. Methods: From 2016 to 2021, the data from 28 pregnant women with symptomatic uterine fibroids who underwent laparotomic myomectomy during pregnancy were prospectively collected, and operative and maternal-fetal outcomes were analyzed (ClinicalTrial ID: NCT06009562). Results: The procedure was carried out between 14 and 16 weeks of pregnancy. Four (14.3%) patients had intraoperative complications (miscarriages) and nine (32.1%) had postoperative complications (threatened preterm birth). Overall, 24 (85.7%) women delivered at full term (mean: 38.2 gestational weeks), more than half (n = 13; 54.2%) by vaginal delivery, with normal fetal weights and 1 and 5 min Apgar scores. Conclusions: Laparotomic myomectomy during pregnancy can be considered in selected cases for uterine fibroids with severe symptoms when other treatment options have failed and there is high risk of adverse maternal-fetal outcomes.

Uterine venous malformations in the puerperium: 2 Atypical cases and literature review

Uterine arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) is a rare but high-risk cause of uterine bleeding. The clinical management of this condition is challenging, as the ultrasound picture can sometimes be unambiguously interpreted. Moreover, in the puerperium in which acquired AVMs are most frequently formed, it is necessary to discuss the correct management in a multidisciplinary and personalized manner. We present two cases of AVMs developing in the puerperium, both with a vaginal delivery and spontaneous and complete secondment. The symptom of onset was an episode of bright red blood loss in the puerperium, on the 14th and 21st postpartum days, respectively. Transvaginal ultrasound showed a hypervascularized lesion in the myometrium with turbulent vascular flow, confirmed by transabdominal ultrasound and angiography. To date, there are no guidelines on the management of MAVs. In our cases we opted for a conservative approach, in order to preserve the fertility of the patient. These experiences reported have the purpose of enriching a literature still sparse on the subject and in the future to be able to represent a fulcrum for official recommendations.

Management of a rare case of placenta trophotropism

There are several variations of placental shape or implantation. Multilobed placentas are thought to arise due to implantation in areas of decreased uterine perfusion. An example is represented by lateral implantation in between the anterior and posterior walls of the uterus. Other local factors leading to multilobation are implantation over leiomyomas, in areas of previous surgery, in the cornu, or over the cervical os. After implantation, there is preferential growth in areas of superior perfusion and atrophy in areas of poor perfusion. This is called trophotropism. We described a singular case of uterine synechia, where is laid the succenturiate lobe from the anterior to the posterior wall, obstacles fetal head descent in the pelvis. Due of that synechia, a cesarean section is necessary for fetal transverse situation with reverse breech extraction.