Prevalence of occult leiomyosarcomas and atypical leiomyomas after laparoscopic morcellation of leiomyomas in reproductive-age women.

STUDY QUESTION: What is the prevalence of leiomyosarcomas and atypical leiomyomas after laparoscopic morcellation of fibroids in reproductive age women?

SUMMARY ANSWER: No case of leiomyosarcomas but seven atypical leiomyomas were found in 1216 subjects.

WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY: Although uterine sarcoma is a rare entity affecting usually older peri- or post-menopausal women, the Food and Drug Administration discourages use of laparoscopic power morcellation of uterine fibroids.

STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION: Retrospective review of data extracted from a single center database of 1216 consecutive women who underwent laparoscopic morcellation of 2582 unsuspicious leiomyomas between June 2003 and December 2015 and were followed-up until December 2016.

PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTINGS, METHODS: A total of 1216 women, aged 18-45 years, underwent laparoscopic morcellation of 2582 apparently benign leiomyomas by the same surgeon and all specimen slides were examined by the same experienced pathologist.

MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE: The prevalence of leiomyosarcomas and atypical leiomyomas was 0% (95% CI: 0-0.3%) and 0.6% (95% CI: 0.23-1.18%) (six atypical-bizarre and one mitotically active leiomyoma) respectively. In addition, there were identified 34 cases of adenomyomas, 45 leiomyomas with infarcts, 81 cellular leiomyomas and 133 degenerated leiomyomas. No morcellator-associated complication was recorded and none of the patients included in this study required conversion to laparotomy.

LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION: Retrospective and single referral center study design.

WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS: Laparoscopic morcellation of unsuspicious leiomyomas after careful preoperative work up seems to be safe in women of reproductive age.

STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S): None.