Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 24, 2026
Author Spotlight: Advancing Pelvic Prolapse Treatment with a Non-Mesh Approach using Laparoscopic Pectopexy
Published on: October 25, 2024
Prevalence of Occult Malignancy Within Morcellated Specimens Removed During Laparoscopic Sacrocolpopexy
Vaneesha Vallabh-Patel1, Cristina Saiz, Charbel Salamon
1From the Atlantic Health System, Division of Urogynecology and Reconstructive Pelvic Surgery, Morristown, NJ.
Objective:
This study aimed to determine the prevalence of occult malignancy found in morcellated specimens removed in the context of pelvic organ prolapse repair operations.
Methods:
A total of 786 cases were reviewed from a single health system between October 2006 and July 2015. Thorough chart reviews were performed to include pathological specimens. Demographic, perioperative, and postoperative data were collected.
Results:
Four occult malignancies were identified including 3 endometrial adenocarcinomas of the uterus and 1 papillary serous carcinoma of the uterus. The overall prevalence of occult malignancy within morcellated specimens was 0.5% (4 of 786). On adopting universal screening with endometrial biopsy, 5 malignancies were identified (5 of 176) before morcellation and no postoperative malignancies in the remaining patients.
Conclusions:
Power morcellation is a low-risk procedure with laparoscopic supracervical hysterectomy and sacrocolpopexy. Universal screening is highly effective in detecting occult malignancy and in our small series eliminated the risk; studies in multiple institutions will be needed to determine its effectiveness in other hospital systems.
