Information on Submucosal Fibroid Tumors

Submucosal fibroid tumors, also known as leiomyomas, are tumors that develop within the lining of the uterus. These tumors can often quickly grow to a large size, and, while they are nearly always benign, their presence can cause a number of unpleasant symptoms. If severe enough, these symptoms can require a number of possible treatments ranging from medication to surgery.

Aspects

• Submuscosal fibroid tumors develop in the mucosa, the smooth muscle lining of the uterus that lies directly below the innermost uterine lining, the endometrium. A fibroid tumor is made up of fibrous tissue and is benign--it cannot metastasize, or spread, into surrounding tissue, so, although the tumor itself can grow into a large mass, it is technically not considered cancerous.

Causes

• The exact cause of the development of submucosal fibroid tumors is not known, although medical researchers have identified that the tumors only develop and grow in size after puberty, when a woman's body begins to produce estrogen. During pregnancy, when estrogen levels are high, submucosal fibroid tumors can increase in size dramatically. Following menopause--and the natural drop in estrogen levels--the tumors shrink. Submucosal fibroid tumors are also more common in obese women and women of African-American heritage.

Symptoms

• Submucosal fibroid tumors can be present in a woman without causing any noticeable symptoms. However, if they grow to a considerable size, they commonly cause prolonged menstrual periods with excessively heavy bleeding. Powerful uterine cramps or spasms, backaches and infertility are also common problems. If a submucosal fibroid tumor is present during pregnancy, it can, depending on its location, cause bleeding and premature birth.

Diagnosis

• Submucosal fibroid tumors are usually diagnosed by first a pelvic examination, then a pelvic ultrasound to identify the exact location of any tumors. If a diagnosis is still uncertain after the ultrasound, a laparoscopy may be performed. During this surgical procedure, a laparoscope is inserted into the abdomen through a small incision in order to view the area in question.

Treatment

• There are four main types of treatments available for women with submucosal fibroid tumors: medication, surgery, uterine artery embolization and the use of guided focused ultrasound. Medication-based treatments focus on controlling the symptoms, while surgical treatments involve either removing the fibroid tumor or the entire uterus. Uterine artery embolization is a procedure in which a special catheter is used to deliver microscopic particles to the arteries near the tumors in order to block off their blood supply. In guided focused ultrasound, ultrasound waves are used to destroy the fibrous tissue of the tumor.