RACK 5 EMBRYOLOGY AND APPLIED ANATOYMY

Key Points

• Uterine fibroids (also known as myomas or leiomyomas) are benign monoclonal neoplasms of the myometrium that represent the most common gynecologic tumor. They may be single or multiple, of variable size
  • They occur more often in Black patients; incidence and symptoms increase until menopause, at which point existing lesions and symptoms regress
• Many patients are asymptomatic.

A fibrous uterus, also known as a fibroid uterus or uterine fibroids, is a condition where noncancerous tumors called fibroids grow in the muscle tissue of the uterus. The gross anatomy of a fibrous uterus can vary depending on the number, size, and location of the fibroids, but here are some general features:

ancers of the uterus include tumors that originate from epithelial or mesenchymal tissue. Tumors that arise from the epithelium are referred to as adenocarcinomas, whereas tumors that arise from mesenchymal tissue (i.e., connective, muscular, vascular) are referred to as sarcomas. These tumors may be found in various locations of the uterus including the endometrium or myometrium.

The uterus, also known as the womb, is a hollow, muscular organ located in the pelvis of females. It is where a fetus grows and develops during pregnancy. The gross anatomy of the uterus includes the following features:

Uterine fibroids, also called leiomyomas or uterine myomas, are benign myometrial tumors of muscle and connective tissue. The incidence of malignancy is 0.36 per 100,000 person-yr. 1 They are typically discrete nodular tumors that vary in size and number.

Fibroids are classified by location in the uterus relative to the myometrium.

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  Subserosal: Located underneath the uterine serosa

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  Intramural: Located in the myometrium proper

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The uterus, or womb, is a pear-shaped organ located in the pelvis of a female's body. A fibrous uterus, also known as a fibroid uterus, is a uterus that contains fibroids or leiomyomas, which are benign growths that develop in the smooth muscle of the uterus. There are different types of fibroids, based on their location in the uterus:

Submucosal fibroids: These fibroids develop in the inner lining of the uterus, called the endometrium.

Intramural fibroids: These fibroids develop in the muscular wall of the uterus.

Uterine fibroids are common growths of the uterus. They often appear during the years you're usually able to get pregnant and give birth. Uterine fibroids are not cancer, and they almost never turn into cancer. They aren't linked with a higher risk of other types of cancer in the uterus either. They're also called leiomyomas (lie-o-my-O-muhs) or myomas.

Uterine fibroids, also called leiomyomas or myomas, are growths that appear in the uterus. They're made of uterine muscle. They're noncancerous and extremely common. In fact, 75 to 80% of people with a uterus will be diagnosed with fibroids at some point in their lives

Causes

The exact cause of uterine fibroids isn't clear. But these factors may play roles:

• Gene changes. Many fibroids contain changes in genes that differ from those in typical uterine muscle cells.

• Hormones. Two hormones called estrogen and progesterone cause the tissue that lines the inside of the uterus to thicken during each menstrual cycle to prepare for pregnancy. These hormones also seem to help fibroids grow.