The concern of uterine fibroid cancer is a prominent concern among women, but the level of worry has increased recently due to power morcellation devices. These laparoscopic surgical devices are being accused of causing women with uterine sarcomas to develop full-blown uterine fibroid cancer.

There is currently no diagnostic method to test whether or not women have this condition before their hysterectomy or myomectomy. Both of these procedures have the option of using the power morcellator devices, which cut the uterine fibroid into pieces for easy removal.

Unfortunately, it is this process that causes the undiscovered uterine sarcoma to be ruptured and then allows it spread through the patient’s body. In a recent study conducted by Kaiser Permanente, it was further confirmed that doctors have no way of detecting uterine sarcoma before these hysterectomy surgeries.

This study was published in the online issue of the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology on Dec. 11, 2014, where scientists analyzed the potential risk of uterine cancer in uterine fibroids. In a majority of the cases of observed, the subjects chose to use a power morcellator for their procedure due to the promised features of faster recovery time and being minimally invasive. These devices work by making a small incision in the abdomen and then cut up the fibroid into sections, which allows for easy removal through the incision.

Kaiser Permanente reviewed the cases of 3,523 women who had undergone a laparoscopic hysterectomy procedure between the years of 2001 and 2012. Of these women, 941 patients had used a powered morecellator for their procedures, and 10 of them had been diagnosed with uterine sarcoma or parasitic myoma soon after. Six of these were uterine sarcoma. As the researchers suspected, the performing surgeons had no way to detect the complication before it spread.

The researchers recommend that patients should be counseled about the possibility of this complication, and should be warned of these risks before choosing to use power morcellation. The results were published less than a month after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a new labeling requirement for power morcellators to carry a black box warning about the risk of spreading cancer cells. The agency also contradicted the power morcellation advertisements, which emphasized the benefits of the products without explaining the risks.

Overall, the Kaiser Permanente study recommends that women who are expecting to undergo laparoscopic procedures should hesitate before choosing to use a power morcellator. However, the scientists also recommend that patients consult with their doctor and research the product before coming to a decision.

Overview of Power Morcellation Risk

Out of all of the 50,000 power morcellator hysterectomy and myomectomy procedures conducted in the United States, it is estimated that one out of 350 of these women may unknowingly have uterine sarcoma. This is alarming due to the fact that there is currently no way to determine whether or not a woman has this condition before undergoing the procedure. Due to the mass concern surrounding this complication, the FDA is now discouraging patients from choosing to use power morcellation for these procedures.

Additionally, the FDA also gathered a panel of outside advisors to help evaluate the risks and benefits of the devices. Despite the consumer popularity of these products, the FDA panel concluded that there was no safe way to use the power morcellation without triggering the possible sarcoma. Since this conclusion, many have requested these devices to be recalled, but the FDA announced that these devices will remain on the market with a stronger black box warning that explains the sarcoma risk.

Unfortunately, this black box warning came too late to many women across the country, who are currently contending with uterine fibroid cancer. Many of these women are suing power morcellator manufacturers for failing to protect them against the possibility uterine fibroid cancer. Additionally, these women state that if they had known about the risk of uterine sarcoma, then they never would have used the devices.