Uterine Tumor Diagnosis

Uterine tumors, also known as uterine fibroid tumors, are benign growths that can occur in several different places within the uterus. While it is not known exactly why certain women develop these tumors, there are a number of common factors in women who have this condition. There are a variety of treatment options for uterine tumors, and diagnosis of the condition is usually conducted in three main ways.

Aspects

• Uterine fibroid tumors can develop just beneath the membrane lining the uterus; within the first layer of the uterine muscle, the submucosal layer; or deep within the uterine wall itself. The tumors are benign, i.e. noncancerous, and generally cause little threat to the individual unless they grow to an extremely large size or inhibit the ability of the woman to carry a pregnancy to term. Several factors appear to make a woman more likely to develop the condition, including a family history of uterine fibroid tumors, abnormalities in the uterine blood vessel system, previous uterine tissue trauma and being of African descent.

First Stage of Diagnosis

• When attempting to diagnose uterine tumors, the first step any physician will take is a thorough pelvic exam. During the pelvic exam, the physician will press down on the lower abdomen while inserting several gloved fingers into the vagina. This will allow the doctor to feel the presence of abnormal growths within the uterus.

Second Stage of Diagnosis

• After the pelvic exam, the doctor will most likely schedule an ultrasound in order to determine the exact location and size of the mass and to rule out any other possible diagnosis, such as an ovarian tumor. The ultrasound will be able to pinpoint the exact size and location of any possible fibroid tumors within the uterus.

Third Stage of Diagnosis

• If the pelvic ultrasound does not yield enough information to make a firm diagnosis, an MRI, CT scan or hysterosalpingogram may be performed. The hysterosalpingogram, or HSG, is a specialized type of ultrasound in which a contrast fluid is injected into the uterus. The contrast fluid, which highlights all of the tissues within the uterus, makes it even easier than a normal ultrasound to identify abnormal masses.

Treatment

• There are three main treatments for uterine tumors. The first is a surgical procedure that will remove the entire uterus or just that portion of the uterus containing the fibroid tumor. The second is hormonal treatment, where the woman takes a combination of hormonal medications for three to six months in order to decrease the size of the tumor. The third option is called UAE, or uterine artery embolization. In this procedure, microscopic beads are injected into the arteries that feed the tumor, blocking its blood supply. Without a consistent blood supply, the tumor stops growing and eventually shrinks.