Abstract
Objective: To investigate any potential effect of fibroid size and distribution on menstrual
blood loss (MBL). Study design: Retrospective comparative study of 50 women with symptomatic fibroids who underwent
uterine imaging and objective MBL measurement prior to uterine artery embolisation
between 1999 and 2002. Setting: West of Scotland Gynaecology and radiology departments. Method: Uterine imaging was by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in all but one case and
MBL was performed using the alkaline haematin technique. Fibroid characteristics were
assessed by an experienced radiologist unaware of the MBL measurements. Results: Thirty-three (66%) women had objective menorrhagia with a MBL in excess of 80 ml per period. The commonest location of fibroids was intramural; these particular
fibroids also had the largest diameter and the greatest uterine volume. There was
a negative relationship between MBL and the diameter of the largest fibroid (r=−0.419, P<0.01). All but two women (both of whom had subserosal fibroids alone) demonstrated
distortion of the uterine cavity. All women with submucosal fibroids presented with
menorrhagia. Conclusion: This study found that MBL correlated with neither fibroid size nor location. However,
all the women with sub-mucosal fibroids had menorrhagia with a MBL greater than 80 ml.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Accepted:
October 21,
2003
Received in revised form:
May 14,
2003
Received:
March 10,
2002
Identification
Copyright
© 2003 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
