What is the difference between uterine fibroids and uterine hypertrophy? How to distinguish between uterine fibroids and uterine hypertrophy?

Uterine fibroids are a common female genital tumor disease. The early symptoms of patients are not obvious, and many women find it difficult to find that they are sick in the early stage. Let us understand the common classification of uterine fibroids and how to identify and diagnose them.

There are four most common types of uterine fibroids:

Submucosal fibroids

Intramural fibroids grow in the uterine cavity, protrude from the cavity, and directly contact the mucosal layer, accounting for about 10%-15%. This tumor can gradually enlarge and deform the uterine cavity, and the pedicle is often connected to the uterus. For example, a long pedicle can block the cervix or detach from the vagina.

2. Intramural fibroids

The most common type of fibroid is located within the muscle wall and is surrounded by muscle layer, accounting for about 60% to 70%.

3. Cervical fibroids

Cervical fibroids grow less frequently, but because they grow in a lower location, they can embed into the pelvic cavity, causing compression symptoms, making surgical removal difficult and easily damaging the ureter and bladder.

4. Subserosal fibroids

Intramural fibroids develop into serosa, protrude from the surface of the uterus, and directly contact the serosa layer, accounting for about 20%. If they grow between the two leaves of the broad ligament, they are intra-ligament fibroids.

What examinations are needed for uterine fibroids?

First, an ultrasound is done:

Ultrasound examination is currently the most commonly used auxiliary diagnosis method. It can show the enlargement of the uterus, irregular shape, the number, location, size of fibroids, whether the inside of the fibroids is uniform or liquefied, cystic, etc. Ultrasound examination is not only helpful in diagnosing uterine fibroids, but also helps to identify ovarian tumors or other pelvic masses.

Then do a hysteroscopy:

The morphology of the uterine cavity and the absence of vegetation can be directly observed under hysteroscopy, which helps in the diagnosis of submucosal fibroids.

In addition, laparoscopy:

When fibroids must be differentiated from ovarian tumors or other pelvic masses, laparoscopy can directly observe the size, shape, and growth location of the uterus and preliminarily determine its nature.

Finally, an MRI scan:

Generally speaking, there is no MRI examination. If it is necessary to identify whether it is uterine fibroids or uterine sarcoma, MRI, especially enhanced delayed imaging, can help identify uterine fibroids and uterine sarcoma. Before laparoscopic surgery, MRI examination can also help clinicians understand the location of fibroids before and during surgery and reduce residual.

Reminder: Correctly distinguish between uterine fibroids and uterine hypertrophy

Uterine fibroids: Most patients are asymptomatic, while a few may experience vaginal bleeding, abdominal masses, and compression symptoms. The sizes of fibroids vary greatly, ranging from as large as tens of kilograms to as small as dozens or hundreds of fibroids appearing at the same time.

Uterine hypertrophy: The typical clinical manifestation is increased vaginal discharge, mild and without systemic symptoms. When the inflammation spreads along the uterosacral ligament to the pelvic cavity, symptoms such as lumbar pain, lower abdominal swelling, and dysmenorrhea may occur, which are aggravated with each bowel movement and sexual intercourse. Compared with uterine fibroids, the uterus is uniformly enlarged, and the gestational uterus is less than 2 months.