Slide 6

A patient has a leiomyoma, also known as a fibroid. The size, number, and location of the fibroids determine the symptoms, which can include heavy periods, spotting, and pain. Large fibroids can cause an enlarged uterus, back and pelvic pain, and urinary or bowel symptoms. They can also lead to infertility, painful intercourse, and pregnancy loss. Ultrasound shows a solid mass, and sonohistography helps differentiate between a polyp and a fibroid. The ultrasound showed that our patient has a leiomyoma. These are also called fibroids, so you'll hear me use those terms interchangeably throughout this presentation. The signs and symptoms of leiomyomas depend on the number, size, and location of them. They can cause abnormal menstruation, which includes a very heavy period, spotting between periods, or even a very painful period. If the leiomyoma is especially large, it can cause an enlarged, firm, and irregular uterus found during exam, just like our patient. It can also cause back and or pelvic pain and discomfort. It can cause urinary or bowel symptoms, depending on its location. It can also cause infertility, and this is trouble with conceiving and or frequent pregnancy loss. It can also cause painful intercourse, which our patient also has. On ultrasound, the findings show a well-circumscribed hypoechoic solid mass. And on sonohistography, that is what helps us distinguish between if it's a polyp or fibroid that we saw on the ultrasound.