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Uterine Leiomyomas

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Clinical Reproductive Medicine and Surgery

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Abstract

Leiomyomas are benign monoclonal tumors of smooth muscle cell origin, the vast majority of which are found within the uterine corpus, although they can occur throughout the body in any structure containing smooth muscle. Leiomyomas are rarely malignant but are responsible for a large number of surgical interventions, including myomectomy and hysterectomy. Although symptoms usually correlate with size, large tumors can be asymptomatic and small tumors can be symptomatic. This chapter will review the pathophysiology and management of leiomyomas and will clarify the classification terms used to describe the location and relationship of a fibroid to the surrounding uterus and will describe the potential impact of this disorder on the patient. This chapter will also postulate how leiomyomas may arise and be influenced by alterations in genetics, lifestyle, endocrinology, and pregnancy. Leiomyomas can be managed by a variety of short-term medical approaches, uterine artery embolization, high-intensity MRI-guided focused ultrasound, and surgery ranging from minimally invasive focal surgical resection to definitive therapy via hysterectomy.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA

    Gregory M. Christman

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Correspondence to Gregory M. Christman .

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  1. Cleveland Clinic London, Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine, Cleveland, OH, USA

    Tommaso Falcone

  2. Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, University of Alabama School of Medicine, Birmingham, AL, USA

    William W. Hurd

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Christman, G.M. (2022). Uterine Leiomyomas. In: Falcone, T., Hurd, W.W. (eds) Clinical Reproductive Medicine and Surgery. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-99596-6_22

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