Intraligamental Myomectomy Strategy Using Laparoscopy

Abstract

STUDY

Objective: Intraligamental myomas (IMs) represent 6% to 10% of all uterine myomas. An IM growing from the lateral uterine wall into the broad ligament often presents as a large pelvic mass without symptoms. Removing a large IM can be difficult because of the limited operative field and poses challenges during conventional laparoscopic surgical approaches. The risk of injury to the ureter and uterine artery during myomectomy is greater than that during other types of myoma.

Design: Retrospective study (Canadian Task Force classification III).

Setting: University-affiliated hospital.

Patients: IM was classified into 3 types according to the location: (1) anterior intraligamental myoma (AIM), (2) posterior intraligamental myoma (PIM), and (3) lateral intraligamental myoma (LIM). From April 2007 to July 2015, 83 consecutive patients with IM underwent laparoscopic myomectomy at National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan, including 23 AIM, 27 PIM, and 33 LIM.

Interventions: Several techniques are described, and videos are supplied for performing laparoscopic myomectomy safely and easily in different types of IM.

Measurements and main results: Urinary frequency (31%) and a palpable abdominal mass (31%) were the 2 most common presenting symptoms. Most of the lesions were 33 LIM (40%) followed by 27 PIM (32%) and 23 AIM (28%). The mean myoma sizes were 11.0, 8.0, and 7.8 cm; the mean myoma weights were 478, 279, and 309 g; the mean operative times were 134, 108, and 104 minutes; and the mean blood loss during surgery was 224, 94, and 107 mL for LIM, PIM, and AIM, respectively. LIMs had relatively more blood loss because they were heavier and commonly rested alongside the uterine artery. The only complication was late postoperative hemorrhage in 1 case of LIM. Histopathology showed leiomyoma in all cases. Three patients were spontaneously conceived after myomectomy, and each had a successful pregnancy and cesarean delivery.

Conclusion: Surgical treatment of IM is empirically difficult. It is important to use an approach that considers the location, size, and shape of the myoma. All types of IM presented with similar symptoms, and the highest blood loss occurred during laparoscopic myomectomy of a LIM.

Keywords: Classification; Huge myoma; Intraligamental myoma; Laparoscopic myomectomy.