on 18-Mar-2015 (Wed)

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Article 149676916

Clinical Fibroids
#rnh

INTRODUCTION — Uterine leiomyomas (fibroids or myomas) are [K1] the most common pelvic tumor in women [1-3]. They are benign monoclonal tumors arising from the smooth muscle cells of the myometrium. They arise in reproductive age women and typically present with symptoms of heavy or prolonged menstrual bleeding or pelvic pain/pressure. Uterine fibroids may also have reproductive effects (eg, infertility, adverse pregnancy outcomes). The epidemiology, clinical manifestations, diagnosis, and natural history of uterine leiomyomas are reviewed here. Treatment of uterine leiomyomas, leiomyoma histology and pathogenesis, differentiating leiomyomas from uterine sarcomas, and leiomyoma variants are discussed separately. (See "Overview of treatment of uterine leiomyomas (fibroids)" and "Histology and pathogenesis of uterine leiomyomas (fibroids)" and "Differentiating uterine leiomyomas (fibroids) from uterine sarcomas" and "Variants of uterine leiomyomas (fibroids)".) TERMINOLOGY AND LOCATION — Fibroids are often de