Intramural Fibroid

 

What are Intramural Fibroids? 

Intramural fibroids are one of the most common types of uterine fibroids, found in 70% of women of childbearing age. Unlike subserosal fibroids, which develop on the outside covering of the uterus, and submucosal fibroids, which develop just under the lining of the uterine cavity, intramural fibroids develop within the wall of the uterus.

Intramural fibroids begin as small nodules in the muscular wall of the uterus. With time, intramural fibroids may expand inwards, causing distortion and elongation of the uterine cavity. Sometimes these fibroid tumors may grow towards the endometrial cavity to become submucosal fibroids or they may even grow towards the outer surface of the uterus to become subserosal fibroids. 

Effect of Fibroids on Reproduction

The impact of fibroid tumors on successful reproduction, have a lot to do with location. For the most part, only those fibroids that impinge upon the endometrial cavity (submucosal) affect fertility. Exceptions include large intramural fibroids that block the openings of the fallopian tubes into the uterus, and where multiple fibroids cause abnormal uterine contraction patterns. Another lesion that can cause significant problems is the one that grows off the back side of the uterus and occupies to a greater or lesser degree, the cui de sac (area behind the uterus). This location is very important in the physiology of conception, therefore it is not uncommon to see patients with these kinds of lesions present with infertility. 

Surgery to treat fibroids can also affect fertility in several ways. If the endometrial cavity is entered during the surgery, there is a possibility of post operative adhesion formation within the uterine cavity. This should always be checked for through the performance of a hysteroscopy or fluid ultrasound prior to beginning fertility treatment. Because myomectomy can be bloody, there is a high likelihood of abdominal adhesion formation, which could encase the ovaries, preventing the release of the eggs or block the ends of the fallopian tubes, or otherwise interfere with the normal functioning and relationships of the pelvic organs. For this reason it is important that only accomplished surgeons, who are familiar with techniques to limit blood loss and prevent adhesion foundation, perform myomectomies. In some cases multiple uterine fibroids may so deprive the endometrium of blood flow, that the delivery of estrogen to the uterine lining (endometrium) is curtailed to the point that it cannot thicken enough to support a pregnancy. This can result in early 1st trimester (prior to the 13th week of pregnancy) miscarriages. Large or multiple fibroids, by curtailing the ability of the uterus to stretch in order to accommodate the spatial needs of a rapidly growing pregnancy, may precipitate recurrent 2nd trimester (beyond the 131h week) miscarriages and/or trigger the onset of premature labor. As stated above, the location of the lesions is very important in the symptoms/impact. A lesion positioned just beneath the endometrial lining can make the structural integrity of the endometrium quite unstable and therefore, unable to develop in a progressive manner in preparation for implantation of the embryo. 

Treatment of Intramural Fibroids

If intramural fibroids aren't interfering with a woman's ability to get pregnant and aren't causing any pain, it is likely they will be left untouched. However, if the intramural fibroids are large, treatment might be necessary to reduce the symptoms produced by them.

These uterine fibroids are generally treated by means of three types of surgical procedures:

• Removal of one or more intramural fibroids by open abdominal surgery called abdominal myomectomy.
• Destruction of the fibroids through uterine artery embolization in which polyvinyl alcohol beads are injected into the uterine artery with a catheter to block the flow of blood to the intramural fibroids.
• Hysterectomy which looks to remove the uterus.

At the present time, effective medicines that can permanently shrink these fibroidsare not available. Hence, surgical removal is the best option available for the treatment of intramural fibroids.

In this video, Dr. Vijayavel performed laparascopy on a patient who had large intramural fibroid [10cm by 12cm] and how he safely removed all of them.

What are Subserosal Fibroids?

Subserosal uterine fibroids develop on the outer surface of the uterus and continue to grow outwards, giving the uterus a knobby appearance. At times, these fibroids tumors may be connected to the uterus by the means of a long stalk or a stem-like base. Such stalked fibroids are called pedunculated subserosal fibroids. These fibroids are often difficult to distinguish from an ovarian mass. 

Over time, subserosal uterine fibroids may grow quite large but, unlike submucosal fibroids, which can greatly disrupt the shape of the uterine cavity as they develop beneath the uterine lining, these fibroids do not typically affect the size of the uterus’ cavity. Like intramural fibroids, which grow inside the wall of the uterus, subserosal fibroids are also quite prevalent among women in their prime reproductive age. 

What are the Symptoms of Subserosal Fibroids?

In the majority of women, subserosal fibroids produce no symptoms. Problems are customarily caused by large and pedunculated subserosal fibroids tumors. Some of the typical symptoms experienced by women with subserosal fibroids include:

• Pelvic pain
• Back pain
• Constipation and bloating
• A generalized feeling of heaviness or pressure
• Frequent urination
• Kidney damage due to compression of the ureter
• Abdominal cramping and pain
• At times, pedunculated subserosal fibroids can twist and cause pain 

As subserosal fibroids are located on the outer surface of the uterus, they typically do not affect a woman’s menstrual flow. 

In this video, Dr. Vijayavel performed laparascopy on a patient who had fibroids and how he safely removed all of them.