A woman has undergone surgery to remove a uterine fibroid that was larger than a basketball, Taipei City Hospital said.
A woman surnamed Hu (胡), 43, said that three years ago doctors discovered a tumor 20cm in diameter after she underwent an ultrasound. She said she decided at the time not to undergo surgery to remove the tumor, as she had no discomfort.
Over the past three years, Hu said she had followed the doctors’ orders and avoided eating intestines, pan-fried or deep-fried foods and drugs containing estrogen, adding that she took traditional Chinese medicine.
However, in recent weeks her stomach ballooned and when she went to the hospital she was told the tumor had swelled, Hu said.
The tumor weighed 6kg, the hospital said.
Taipei City Hospital Heping Fuyon Branch department of gynecology attending physician Huang Yen-hua (黃彥華) said fibromyomas are the most commonly seen uterine tumors.
Twenty percent of women aged 18 to 40 have been diagnosed with fibromyomas and 40 to 50 percent of women more than 40 years old develop benign uterine tumors, Huang said.
It is not known why these tumors develop, but doctors think that estrogen, human growth hormones or other hormones cause the tumors grow, Huang said.
More than 99 percent of all fibromyoma cases are benign and symptoms vary depending on where in the uterus they develop, doctors said, adding that excessive menses, high frequency urination and pressure pains are the most common symptoms.
Acute pain from tumors detaching from the uterus, blood clotting due to the tumor or degeneration of the tumor are also possible symptoms, Huang said.
However, doctors said that only 50 percent of fibromyoma cases exhibit symptoms and doctors do not usually suggest surgical removal unless patients experience pain or swelling of the tumor, or if the patient experiences excessive menses.
Huang said doctors usually suggest treatment based on the size of the tumor, its location and the physical condition of the patient.
Tumors that do not exhibit symptoms or are smaller than 5cm are usually left untreated and are monitored for a four to six month period, Huang said.
If a tumor reaches the size of an adult’s fist, doctors suggest the removal of the tumor, Huang said.
Based on the preference of the patient and her physical condition, surgical removal might include a total hysterectomy, partial hysterectomy or the removal of the tumor alone, Huang said.
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