Many women who must undergo a hysterectomy or fibroid removal opt for a procedure known as power morcellation.

However, morcellation of the uterus and fibroids may lead to an aggressive form of cancer.

Traditional hysterectomies, or open hysterectomies, are quite invasive and require six weeks of recovery time. They create a large scar and might possibly create other medical complications.

Currently, 40% of hysterectomies performed in the U.S. are open hysterectomies.

Vaginal hysterectomies are less invasive and may be a viable choice for those who need to have the procedure done.

During this procedure, the uterus is cut away and removed through the vagina. There are few incisions, less pain and the recovery time is more efficient.

However, many patients have opted for power morcellation of the uterus.

What is Power Morcellation?

Morcellation procedures are performed with a medical device called a power morcellator.

Women who opt for morcellation of the uterus or fibroids are often told there is less hospital recovery time for patients as well as less time in the operation room and less blood loss.

Morcellation of the uterus works by the surgeon first making a small incision. Next, the surgeon inserts a device that morcellates, or chops up, the fibroids, uterus or problematic tissue. The surgeon then vacuums the leftover residue from the abdominal cavity.

However, morcellation of the uterus is problematic when the patient has a very-hard-to-detect form of cancer in the uterus. When the morcellator chops up the tissue, it can spread the cancerous cells throughout the abdominal cavity.

These bits of tissue can adhere to other organs and tissue and cause new cancer growth in other areas.

Uterine cancer is virtually impossible to detect and is the fourth most common cancer in women. Most uterine cancer occurs in the inside lining of the uterus, the endometrium. This type of cancer is less harmful and has a good survival rate.

But another type of uterine cancer is much more deadly. When cancer grows on the outside of the uterus it is classified as a sarcoma.

When morcellation of the uterus occurs in a patient with undetected uterine sarcoma, those aggressive cells can spread throughout the body.

Potentially, this procedure can propel a patient who might have a cancer considered a Stage I cancer to a Stage IV. This means that the cancer has spread throughout the body and may be difficult or impossible to treat.

Morcellation of the uterus can upstage cancer in a person with uterine sarcoma and is a procedure that many think should cease.

If you have undergone morcellation of the uterus and have suffered from upstaged cancer as a result, you may be entitled to legal compensation.