Myomectomy Pics

Here is what your doctor sees when s/he does a laparoscopic myomectomy (removal of uterine leiomyomata, or fibroids):

Photo via eMedicine

Very nice picture of a fibroid uterus, with three fibroids.

The uterus is at the center of the pic. The, almost aligned, three fibroids are to the left, on the uterine body, from top to bottom. Part of an instrument is visible in the R upper corner. Bilaterally, from the upper part of the uterus, you have the Fallopian tubes, projecting outward and down. Notice, in the R lower corner, you can see the ovary.

Uterine Fibroid Myths

Five uterine fibroids myths, from a presentation at the meeting of the Obstetrical and Gynecological Assembly of Southern California. [For more on myomas, including some excellent (Warning: graphic!) intraop pics, go here and here.]



▸ Myth No. 1. A rapidly growing fibroid could be or become a leiomyosarcoma [cancerous].

▸ Myth No. 2. If you can't feel the ovaries because fibroids are in the way, you need to do a hysterectomy because if the patient develops ovarian cancer you would never pick it up.

▸ Myth No. 3. Intramural [inside the uterine wall] fibroids will impair fertility so we need to take them out.

▸ Myth No. 4. Fibroids will just grow back after myomectomy, so one might as well do a hysterectomy.

▸ Myth No. 5. Hysterectomy is safer than myomectomy.