Short-term change in growth of uterine leiomyoma: tumor growth spurts
Donna Day Baird1, Tiana A Garrett, Shannon K Laughlin
1Epidemiology Branch, Laboratory of Women's Health, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27709, USA. baird@niehs.nih.gov
Objective:
To describe the short-term changes in growth of uterine leiomyomas (fibroids).
Design:
Prospective observational study.
Setting:
University research center.
Patient(S):
Premenopausal women with fibroids (18 blacks and 18 whites) recruited through a physician network and community outreach.
Intervention(S):
Not applicable.
Main Outcome Measure(S):
The volumes of 101 fibroids were measured at enrollment, 3, 6, and 12 months with magnetic resonance imaging, resulting in three interval-specific growth rates. Growth spurts were defined by interval growth rates≥30% per 3 months and substantially greater than during other intervals of observation. An overall measure of short-term change in fibroid growth was calculated as the variance of the three interval-specific growth rates.
Result(S):
Growth spurts were observed in 37 of the 101 fibroids, a prevalence nearly tenfold higher than that attributable to potential measurement error. Fibroids from the same woman did not have similar short-term growth, nor were woman-specific factors (age, race/ethnicity, parity, body mass) or the fibroid position in the uterus important. However, large fibroids (>5 cm diameter) had less short-term change than smaller fibroids.
Conclusion(S):
Short spurts of growth are common for fibroids, suggesting that tumor biology may change rapidly.
Related Concept Videos
02:07Tumor Progression
Colon cancer is one of the best-documented examples of tumor progression. Early mutation in the APC gene in colon cells causes a small growth on the colon wall called a polyp. With time, this polyp grows into a benign, pre-cancerous tumor. Further...
02:07Tumor Progression
Colon cancer is one of the best-documented examples of tumor progression. Early mutation in the APC gene in colon cells causes a small growth on the colon wall called a polyp. With time, this polyp grows into a benign, pre-cancerous tumor. Further...
01:20Proliferative Phase
Notably, the stratum basale, the basal layer of the endometrium, including the basal parts of the uterine glands, remains unaffected by menstruation. Stem cells in this layer undergo mitosis, regenerating the stratum functionalis and thickening the...
01:16Uterine Tubes
01:26Cellular Adaptation III: Hyperplasia
02:23Abnormal Proliferation