Longitudinal evaluation of uterine myoma growth during pregnancy. A sonographic study

Abstract

Thirty-six pregnant women with a single uterine myoma were examined by ultrasonography at 2 to 4 week intervals. The initial diagnosis was made in 12 patients before pregnancy and in the other 24 patients between 9 and 12 weeks of gestation. Thirty-four women had a scan 4 weeks after delivery. A reduction in size was observed in puerperium, which may indicate a return to its initial volume. Myoma growth was analyzed in different periods of gestation. An increase in volume during pregnancy was observed in 31.6% of cases. A statistically significant change in volume was noted between the first and the third trimesters (P < 0.001). The greatest increase in volume of myomas occurred before the 10th week of gestation. The relationship between myoma volume and myoma growth in the different gestational periods considered was not statistically significant. On the other hand, when myoma volume was related to complications during pregnancy or at delivery, a statistically significant difference was observed. Myomas with volumes greater than 200 cm3 show a higher rate of complications than those with volumes equal to or less than 100 cm3.