Clinical and Therapeutic Aspects of Giant Fibroids at the Hôpital du Mali about 30 Cases ()
1. Introduction
Uterine fibroids (UFs), also called uterine leiomyomas or myomas, are the most widespread benign tumors of the female genital tract. They affect 20% to 25% of women of reproductive age and are 3 to 9 times more common in black women than in white women [1]. They generally develop after the age of 30 [1] [2]. However, pathogenesis remains not fully understood today. Their occurrence and growth are influenced by many factors including: estrogens, progestins, growth factors, angiogenesis, genetic predisposition, nulliparous, obesity and early menarche [3] [4].
UFs are often asymptomatic, detected during a systematic gynecological examination or during pelvic imaging. They can develop as menometrorrhagia, heaviness, pelvic pain, a feeling of mass. They may be a matter of infertility [5].
They are usually small, ranging from a few millimeters to several centimeters, and are often asymptomatic. UFs can have large dimensions up to several decimeters. Today, fibroids constitute a real public health issue [5]. The excessive volume of certain fibroids, the delayed diagnosis and even the reluctance of certain patients to modern medicine lead to a difficulty in the various methods of treatment [4]. No study had been done in Mali in this sense. The present work was initiated in order to report the socio-demographic and therapeutic aspects of GFs in the gynecology unit of the Hôpital du Mali.
2. Methodology
It was a descriptive retro-prospective study about data collection. The study was conducted in the service of gynecology of the Hôpital du Mali from November 01, 2017 to December 31, 2018 were included in our study, any patient who consulted at the Mali hospital during the study period. In whom, the diagnosis of giant fibroid was made on the basis that the size of the uterus exceeded the patient’s umbilicus on physical examination (on palpation). Having had a pelvic ultrasound for the measurement and topography of fibroids.
Not included in our study, any fibroid not respecting the above mentioned criteria.
The variables studied were: socio-demographic (age, marital status), gyneco-obstetrics (parity and gravidity), clinical (menstrual disorder, desire for a child, pelvic pain, pelvic masses), imaging (pelvic ultrasound), gynecological examination (vaginal examination, measurement of uterine height) preoperative biological assessment.
All of our patients had previously received a consultation. The gynecological examination was supplemented by visual inspection techniques using a speculum with acetic acid and Lugol (IVA/IVAL) for cervical cancer screening.
The uterine height was assessed with a measuring tape from the upper edge of the pubis to the upper end of the uterus via the umbilical line. This measurement was evaluated in centimeters before surgery. Measurements of the myomatous nuclei and or the uterus were evaluated post-operatively.
All patients had undergone pelvic ultrasound to assess the size and mapping of myomas. A preoperative biological assessment including: rhesus grouping, blood count, blood sugar, creatinemia (bleeding, coagulation, cephalin kaolin), uricemia and retroviral serology.
Surgical decisions were made on the basis of: excessive size of the uterus, menometrorrhagia and desire of pregnancy. All the patients had undergone a pre-anesthetic consultation. Our data was collected on an individual survey sheet, from patient records, the operating report register, and the pathology result.
3. Results
We had collected 30 cases of GFs out of 92 patients operated on for myomectomies, with a frequency of 32.60%. They accounted for 8.69% of the overall surgical procedures of the service. The age group 25 - 29 years represented 46.6% of our patients with a mean age of 35 years ranging from 20 to 39 years old. Among our patients, housewives represented 50%, nulligravida (33%) and nulliparous (50%). The reason for consultation for desire to become pregnant concerned 34.48% of our patients. The history of myomectomy was found out in 20% of the patients (Table 1). The delay of 5 years between the occurrence of the signs and the consultation had been found in 53.3% of the cases. Pelvic mass was the most common clinical sign (83.3%). The uterine
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Table 1. Sociodemographic and clinical characteristics.
height (UH) between 25 – 29 cm on physical examination was observed in 46.66% of patients (Figure 1). All of our patients had a pelvic ultrasound. Interstitial myoma involved 48% of the cases (Table 1). Myomectomy and hysterectomy were performed respectively in 76.64% and 23.3% of cases (Figure 2). This poly myomectomy had been performed without opening the uterine cavity in 60% of the cases and in 40% without opening the cavity (Figure 3 and Figure 4). In our study, a weight including 1 to 5 kg of the nuclei and or the uterus (Figure 5) was pointed out in 80% of the patients (Table 2). The size of the nuclei or uterus measuring more than 25 cm after surgery was figured out in 48.66% of patients. Blood transfusion involved 26.6% pre and intra operative and 30% post operatively. Operative complications were dominated by hemorrhages in 20%. No death was reported. Leiomyoma was the histological tissue found in all cases of myomectomy. The average hospital stay was 3 to 5 days. The patients were followed 12 months postoperatively, due to one outpatient visit per month.
4. Discussions
Frequency: There is no consensus determining the dimensions and the weight for which these fibroids would be considered giant. During our study, we defined a giant fibroid (GF) as any fibroid whose uterine height (UH) was 20 cm or more or exceeding the patient’s navel (Figure 1).
During our study period, from November 01, 2017 to December 31, 2018, we
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Table 2. Distribution by weight of the myomatous nuclei and or the uterus after surgery.
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Figure 1. Increase in pelvic volume in a woman with a GF.
collected 30 cases of GFs out of 92 myomectomies in the department, with a frequency of 32.60% and 8.69% on the overall surgical procedures of the service. Erghouni M [8] in Morocco had reported a frequency of 3% on all of the department’s surgical operations over two years. Our high frequency could be accounted for on the one hand by the position of the hospital (the only one on the right side of Bamako) and on the other hand our service is almost exclusively devoted to gynecological activity.
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Figure 2. Distribution according to the operating indications.
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Figure 3. Anatomical parts of myomas postoperatively.
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Figure 4. Anatomical part of a globular and polymyomatous uterus post hysterectomy.
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Figure 5. Evaluation of the weight of myomas postoperatively.
Nguyen-Duc H; in 2003 found out a case of GF of 13/10 cm in diameter in a 15-year-old adolescent with conservation of the uterus. [6]. llham B [7] in Morocco also pointed out a case of fibroma of 20 cm in diameter in a 52-year-old patient in perimenopause without uterine preservation.
Age: The age group 25 - 29 years represented 56.6% with an average age of 35 years. These results were similar to those of Nourelhouda C. et al. [9] (35 years), and lower than those of Erghouni M. [8] who reported an average age of 41 years.
History: Nulliparous women represented 50% of our patients. These data are higher than those reported by Nourelhouda C. [9] (37.83%). In contrast, Erghouni M. [8] reported an average parity of five (5). This difference is explained by the fact that, in our study, the patients consulted more for desire to get pregnant (34.48%). The history of myomectomy had been found out in 20% of our patients. This rate of previous myomectomy was significantly lower than that of Nourelhouda C. et al. (71.8%) [9]. The desire to become pregnant was the most common reason for consultation in our study (34.48%), followed by pelvic pain (23.33%). However, in the series of Erghouni M, all the patients had consulted for a pelvic abdominal mass [8].
Clinical data: An average delay of five years was found between the occurrence of the signs and the gynecological consultation in 53.3% of the cases. All our patients have reported a progressive increase in abdominal volume over many years. These patients had not consulted for various reasons: the lack of a specialized unit nearby, socio-cultural reasons or even a reluctance to a possible surgery. Erghouni M had figured out an average delay of 6 years for the same reasons [8].
In our study, palpation of the abdomino-pelvic mass was the most frequent clinical sign (83.33%); which was higher than that of Erghouni M. [8] (80%). In contrast, Nourelhouda C. et al. reported that genital hemorrhage was the most common sign with 35%, followed by abdominopelvic mass in 16% [9].
The uterine height (UH) between 25 - 29 cm affected 46.66% of our patients. All our patients had had pelvic ultrasound to assess the size and mapping of fibroids. The latter had highlighted: 48.6% of interstitial myomas; 32.7% subserosal and 18.54% submucosal. Nourelhouda C. et al. reported 43% subserosal; 34% submucosal and 23% intramural [9]. A complementary computed tomography was carried out in 10% of the cases for causes of mechanical compressions (hydronephrosis, disorder of the intestinal and urinary transit). However, in Erghouni M.’s study [8] all these patients had had magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for the mapping and size of myomas. MRI is the most effective medical examination in the diagnosis of pelvic pathologies. But its cost, accessibility and its counter-indications limit its realization in our context.
Surgery myomectomy was performed in 77.67% of cases and hysterectomy in 23.3% of cases. Unlike Erghouni M. [8] who had 16.66% myomectomies and 83.34% hysterectomy. This discrepancy could be explained, in our study, by our patients consulted for desire of pregnancy. The size of the nuclei after surgery was greater than 25 cm in 48.66% of our patients. Our data were comparable to that of Erghouni M [8], who had found 41.66% of cases. Spinal anesthesia was the most practiced with 86.6%.
The management of GFs in our study was exclusively surgical and by the abdominal route as in the literature [8] [9] [10]. Their indications took into account the complications caused by size, mechanical compression; debilitating pain and hemorrhagic pain. The type of intervention depended on several parameters. In those involving postmenopausal patients, a total hysterectomy with adnexectomy was decided in order to avoid the subsequent risk of ovarian or cervical cancer. Myomectomy has been recommended in some young patients, in order to preserve fertility (intend to get a child). All of our patients had undergone cervical cancer screening with the IVA/IVL visual inspection technique, unlike the studies cited above. Sãvulescu F et al. in Romania [11] reported a case of myoma measuring 33/28/22 cm and weighing 18.1 kg.
Data and post-operative care: We found out a weight of the nuclei between 1 and 5 kg in 80% of the cases. The size of the fibromatous nuclei and or the uterus measuring more than 25 cm after surgery was reported in 48.66% of patients. Some of our patients, even a bulky and polymyomatous uterus, wanted to keep the uterus for reasons of fertility. The blood transfusion had concerned 26.6% of the patients among them, in 43.33% was transfused in per and or post operatively. Operative complications were dominated by hemorrhages in 20% of cases. Bleeding remains one of the early complications of myomectomies as described by Legendre G. [12] et al., and Foulot H. et al. [13]. All of our patients had received preventive anticoagulant therapy 8 hours after surgery. We have not observed any deaths.
Histology: Leiomyoma was the histological tissue found in all cases of myomectomy as in other studies [8] [9] [10] [11]. The average length of hospital stay was three to five days. The patients were followed 12 months postoperatively, due to one outpatient visit per month.
5. Conclusion
The giant fibroid (GF) is a common cause of myomectomies. Desire to become pregnant and menstrual cycle disorders are the leading indications for these myomectomies. Hysterectomy should be reserved for the etiologies: excessive volume of fibroids, postmenopausal women and multiple gravida.
Author Approval
All the authors agree to the submission of this article.
Consent
For this work, we have received the patient’s approval; that of the head of the service and the director of Hôpital du Mali.
Individual Investigation Sheet
File number: ……… Date of consultation: …..../….../2017
CIVIL STATUS OF THE PATIENT
Q1: First and last name: ………………………………………………….
Q2: Age: ………….
Q3: Gender: □ Female
Q4: Profession
□ Civil servant □ Economic operator □ saleswoman
□ Worker □ Housewife □ Pupil/Student
□ Others
Q5: Ethnic group
□ Bambara □ Peulh □ Dogon
□ Malinké □ Sonrhaï □ Soninké
□ Other to be specified
Q6: Residence
□ District □ out of district
Q7: Nationality
□ Malian □ Other to be specified
Q8: Reason for consultation
□ Pelvic pain □ Metrorrhagia □ Metro menorrhagia
□ Menorrhagia □ Hemorrhage □ Leucorrhea
□ Urinary sign □ Mass perception □ Desire for pregnancy
□ Gynecological examination for other reasons □ Emergency
Q9: History
Medical:
□ HBP □ Diabetes □ Anemia
□ Other specified …………
Surgical
□ Cesarean section □ Polymyomectomy □ Salpingotomy
□ Other to be specified …………
Families:
□ HBP □ Diabetes
□ Other to be specified ………..
Obstetrics:
Gestity …… Parity …… Living …... Dead …… Termination of pregnancy …..
□ Inter-reproductive interval
Gynecological:
Menstruation: □ regular □ irregular
Duration of menstruation …….
Dysmenorrhea: □ Yes □ No
Dysuria: □ Yes □ No
Menarche ………….. years
Date of last menses (DLM) …..
Q10: Clinical examination
General condition: □ good □ fair □ deteriorate
Conjunctivitis: □ colored □ moderately colored □ pale
Uterus size: □ increased □ normal
Uterine height (measuring tape): ………
Q11: Ultrasound
Subserosal fibroma: □ Yes □ No
Mucosal fibroma: □ Yes □ No
Intramural fibroma: □ Yes □ No
Q12: Associated signs
Urinary: □ Yes □ No □ if yes to be specified ………
Digestive: □ Yes □ No □ if yes please specify ………
Pregnancy: □ Yes □ No □ if yes, specify ………….
Q13: Associated pathologies
Ovarian cyst: □ Yes □ No
Cancer □ Yes □ No
-Endometriosis: □ Yes □ No
-Anemia: □ Yes □ No
Q14: Additional examinations
-Ultrasound: □ Yes □ No
Result ……………………………………………………………………………
GnRH: □ Yes □ No
Result ……………………………………………………………………………
-Anterior laparoscopy less than 2 years:
□ Yes □ No
Result ……………………………………………………………………………
CBC: □ Yes □ No
Result ……………………………………………………………………………
Other …………………………………………………………………………….
Q15: Treatment
Medical: □ Yes □ No
If Yes specified: …………………………………………………………………..
Q16: Preoperative anesthesia report
Blood transfusion: □ pre-op □ per-op □ post-op
Q17: Type of anesthesia:
□ general anesthesia □ Spinal anesthesia
Q18: Type of incision
□ Pfannenstiel □ Medline
Q19: Operational difficulties
Anesthesia: □ HBP □ Hypotension
□ Anesthetic conversion
Bleeding: □ 200 cc □ 300 cc
Trauma/operational incident:
□ bladder trauma
□ Rectal trauma
□ Tubal trauma
Q 20: Number of surgeons:
□ two □ three
Q21: intraoperative clinical evaluation:
Size of the uterus: …………. cm
Number of nuclei: ………….
Topography of the nuclei:
□ serosal …… □ muscular …. □ mucosal …….
Q 22: Nature of uterine incision:
□ horizontal □ vertical
Q23: Status of the appendices:
□ tubes ……… □ Ovaries …………
Q 24: Hysterectomy □ Yes □ no
Q 25: Duration of the intervention
□ 2 hours □ 3 hours □ 4 hours □ 5 hours
Q 26: Post-operative complications:
Anemia: □ Yes □ No
Thromboembolic disease:
□ Yes □ No
Suppuration: □ Yes □ No
Q 27: Duration of hospitalization:
□ 3 days □ 4 days □ 5 days
□ 10days □ 20 days
□ Other specified ……
Q 29 histological examination of the operating room:
Result: ..................