Use of pre-operative imaging for symptomatic uterine myomas during pregnancy: a case report and a systematic literature review

Imaging findings of fibroid torsion in pregnancy: A case report

When our patient presented emergently to labor and delivery at 18 weeks pregnant with severe right abdominal pain, the common diagnoses (such as appendicitis, cholecystitis, etc.) were on the top of the differential. However, US and MRI revealed a rarer cause of her pain, a pedunculated fibroid. The most important question then became whether this fibroid had torsed, which would require surgical intervention to prevent life-threatening sequelae. Unfortunately, presurgical imaging diagnosis of fibroid torsion in pregnancy is difficult. We offer a description of our patient's imaging findings, which align with other radiologic descriptions of fibroid torsion in pregnancy in the literature, to contribute to the radiologist's diagnostic confidence in this patient population.

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

INTRODUCTION

Uterine fibroids (UFs) are the most common benign disease affecting female reproductive system, occur in 20-40 % of women, and in 10 % of pregnancies. The aim of the investigation was to summarize evidences about the management and treatment of UFs and related complications in pregnancy.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A literature review was performed using scientific databases, including all case report and case series, using a combination of key words relating to the problem exposed. Data about gestational age at diagnosis, maximum fibroids diameter, type of surgery and gestational age at surgery, delivery and perinatal outcome were collected. Two clinical cases were also included.

RESULTS

Sixty-six articles were selected and 199 patients were included. In 76 % of patients the gestational age at myomectomy was lower than 20 weeks, in 85 % laparotomic surgery was chosen, in 41 % of cases the maximum fibroid diameter was between 7-20 cm, in 41 % of pregnancies the route of delivery was cesarean section. The eight percent of cases was complicated by miscarriage or fetal demise or neonatal death.

CONCLUSIONS

Myomectomy is a feasible procedure in those pregnancies complicated by symptomatic fibroids, though surgery in pregnancy is associated with an increased risk of obstetric complications.

Minimally Invasive Myomectomy: An Overview on the Surgical Approaches and a Comparison with Mini-Laparotomy

Uterine fibroids (UFs) are the most common benign solid tumors of the female genital tract manageable by surgical of pharmacological approach. When the medical management is ineffective or surgery is primarily requested, several surgical approaches can be used. Among these, minimally invasive surgery might be preferred. Myomectomy is the standard surgical treatment when fertility sparing is claimed. It can be performed via laparoscopy, robotic surgery and hysteroscopy and the choice depend on UFs features and surgeon's skill. Alongside these minimally invasive options, mini-laparotomy has been proposed as a less invasive surgical approach comparable to the well-established minimally invasive options. The aim of this review is to describe the most recent advances in minimally invasive techniques to perform myomectomy, comparing them with mini-laparotomy approach.