When Uterine Fibroids Move to Other Organs
Uterine fibroids are tumors that are non-malignant that grow in the uterus. However, there are rare cases when they are found elsewhere. There are parasitic fibroids or leiomyomas that are known to attach themselves to other parts of the body. This also happens when the fibroids are broken down and smaller parts find their way to the areas around the uterus. Like fibroids in the uterus, these shifting fibroids are treated based on where they are located and what symptoms they cause.
Migrating Fibroids
Parasitic leiomyomas or migrating fibroids have been found to ‘travel’ as far as the lungs. When this happens, immediate medical treatment is often necessary. Vaginal leiomyomas and parasitic fibroids on the omentum are also occurrences of shifting or spreading tumors.
While they are visualized using the same imaging tests done to diagnose fibroids in the uterus, parasitic fibroids are mostly confirmed only during surgery. For instance, a parasitic tumor could be mistaken as an ovarian mass or a cervical fibroid in an imaging test. On post-operative histopathological examination, the tumor could turn out to be a migrating fibroid.
Patients with parasitic fibroids in the abdominal area and near the vagina walls could exhibit the same initial symptoms as those with uterine fibroids. They could experience abdominal pain, fibroid torsion, and ureteral problems among others. Patients with vaginal leiomyomas could have vaginal bleeding as well.
Spreading Through Surgery
Newer technologies that are less invasive than conventional open surgeries may present a risk for fibroids patients. In morcellation, a procedure that breaks the tumors into smaller pieces, studies indicate higher risks of spreading fibroids to other organs near the vagina walls. There are also instances when a cancerous growth mistaken as a fibroid spreads to other areas as well.
Laparoscopic procedures to remove fibroids from the uterus present a similar risk. After ‘blasting’ a large tumor, it should be easier to remove the resulting smaller pieces using through a laparoscopic tool and passing through small incisions in the abdominal area. However, it is possible to miss some of the pieces especially if they have shifted farther from the uterus. In an open procedure, the surgical team will be able to ‘see’ the pieces better and it will be easier to wash them out of the body.
Keeping the Fibroids within the Uterus
In the case of parasitic fibroids, it is not possible to contain the fibroids within the uterus. There are no external physical indications that they are shifting or spreading to other organs near the vagina walls. Their symptoms are common and similar to those of other growths too and they could easily be mistakenly diagnosed through imaging tests.
In surgical spreading of uterine fibroids, there are pre-cautionary measures that could be taken by the surgical team to contain the fibroids pieces and completely remove all of them. The risk of fibroids shifting and spreading to other organs near the vagina walls is still present. Other surgical procedures may be considered to eliminate or further minimize the risk. Patients should discuss these options thoroughly with their doctors and weigh the benefits and advantages versus their risks.
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