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Uterine Leiomyomas

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Clinical Reproductive Medicine and Surgery
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Abstract

Leiomyomas are benign monoclonal tumors of smooth muscle cell origin, the vast majority of which are found within the uterine corpus. Each monoclonal myoma may be associated with various chromosomal translocations, duplications, and deletions. Myomas have been classified used the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) Classification system. Uterine leiomyomas are believed to influence reproduction in several ways; however, their direct effect on fertility is still a subject of much debate. African-American women have a two to threefold greater relative risk of leiomyomas compared to Caucasian women and tend to be diagnosed at an earlier age and have more severe disease (larger leiomyomas and greater incidence of anemia) as compared to Caucasian women. In patients with a menstrual abnormality, the birth control pill has been used successfully, and the presence of a leiomyoma is not considered a contraindication. The important concept in the management of leiomyomas is that intervention is not required in asymptomatic women. Leiomyosarcoma is an uncommon finding in premenopausal women. Surgical and non-surgical options are available. The most controversial aspect of a minimally invasive approach to myomectomy is tissue extraction by morcellation.

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Abbreviations

Uterine Artery Embolization:

An interventional radiologic procedure whereby an arterial catheter is used to deliver small particles that block the blood supply to the uterus for the treatment of uterine fibroids

High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound:

A highly precise procedure using focused ultrasound beams to heat and destroy uterine fibroids by causing tissue coagulation. The procedure is called MRgFUS (magnetic resonance guided focused ultrasound) when magnetic resonance imaging is used for both precise targeting and real-time monitoring of tissue temperature to guide and monitor the procedure

Apoptosis:

Programmed cell death characterized by distinct morphological characteristics and energy-dependent biochemical mechanisms. Modulation of apoptosis has been proposed as a therapeutic approach for the treatment of uterine leiomyoma

GnRH agonists and antagonists:

Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonists and antagonists are synthetic peptides modeled after the hypothalamic hormone GnRH that interacts with the GnRH receptor to elicit the release and/or inhibition of the pituitary hormones FSH and LH

Leiomyosarcoma:

Rare smooth muscle tumors that can appear grossly almost identical to uterine leiomyomas. They account for <1% of patients with uterine cancers

Aromatase Inhibitors:

An antiestrogenic drug that interferes with the ability of the aromatase enzyme to convert testosterone to estradiol in many tissues, including the adrenal glands, ovaries, placenta, testicles, adipose tissue, and brain

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Christman, G.M. (2017). Uterine Leiomyomas. In: Falcone, T., Hurd, W. (eds) Clinical Reproductive Medicine and Surgery. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-52210-4_22

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