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Submucosal fibroid

Case contributed by Rupesh Namdev
Diagnosis certain

Presentation

Severe dysmenorrhea

Patient Data

Age: 40 years
Gender: Female
ultrasound

A submucosal fibroid is seen as a slightly heterogeneous predominantly hypoechoic lesion in the posterior wall of the uterus and displacing the endometrium anteriorly.

Case Discussion

Submucosal fibroids are the least common type of uterine fibroids, intramural and subserosal types being the other. It accounts for just 5% of all fibroids and are always symptomatic. Submucosal fibroids can occasionally become pedunculated and prolapse into the cervical canal or vagina.

On ultrasound submucosal fibroids are seen as hypo-echoic solid masses with shadowing located at the myometrial endometrial juncture. Submucosal fibroids typically have an overlying layer of echogenic endometrium, which helps confirm their subendometrial location and helps distinguish them from endometrial polyps. In addition, as opposed to polyps, submucosal fibroids often distort the interface between the endometrium and myometrium and show acoustic attenuation.

Because of its subendometrial location, hysteroscopic myomectomy is a preferred and more successful procedure in cases of submucosal fibroids.

For a complete discussion on submucosal fibroids please see: sub-mucosal leiomyoma of the uterus.

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