Power morcellator surgery is the most popular procedure method when removing uterine fibroids in women, as well as when performing other gynecological procedures.

However, there has been major concern over recent news released alleging that power morcellators significantly increase the risk of uterine cancer.

Morcellator surgery is preferable for delicate procedures, such as uterine fibroid removal, due to the device’s accuracy and minimally invasive techniques. Power morcellators consists of tiny rotating blades that are used to cut up the fibroids for easy removal, and a small tube that is used to suck up the cut up muscle and tissue.

Power morcellators can also make the delicate incisions necessary for the procedure, toting to be much more accurate than human surgeons. Beyond the accuracy and convenience these devices provide, morcellator surgery is also less invasive and requires less hospital recovery time.

These benefits pushed the product’s popularity to female patients, who were unaware of the possibility of power morcellator cancer.

Some women who had procedures that used power morcellators to remove their uterine fibroids were soon diagnosed with uterine sarcoma, a deadly form of uterine cancer, soon after the surgery. It soon became a more prevalent issue.

The FDA issued a public safety alert in April 2014 to address this concern, warning surgeons against using power morcellators and power morcellator cancer. The warning discouraged surgeons from using the devices, stating that power morcellators carry the risk of spreading dormant cancer cells in women through the uterine fibroid removal procedure.

Overview of Power Morcellator Cancer

While the exact cause of uterine cancer is unknown, medical experts have identified several risk factors that increase the chances, including being over the age of 40, obesity, and having a family history of uterine cancer. In addition, hormone replacement therapy and certain medications to treat breast cancer can also increase the chances.

Currently there is no diagnostic method available to determine if a woman has uterine cancer before the morcellator surgery, leaving thousands of women at risk for the release of uterine sarcoma.

Oftentimes before morcellator surgery, women who do have undiagnosed uterine cancer are at Stage I and exhibit no symptoms. At this stage, the cancer is treatable with the patients having a higher chance of survival.

However, when the power morcellator shreds the uterine fibroids, the previously dormant cancer cells are released and quickly spread through the reproductive system.

Women who are diagnosed with power morcellator cancer after the surgery are often at a very latent stage making treatment options very limited.

According to the FDA, one out 350 women who are undergoing uterine fibroid removal have undiagnosed uterine sarcoma. Medical experts state that women who have a history of uterine cancer should not use power morcellators for their surgeries, and that they should go through screening processes recommended by their doctors.

Many women who were diagnosed with uterine sarcoma have filed legal action against the morcellator manufacturers for failing to warn them of the risk. Potential claimants should contact a specialized lawyer, to determine if they have a lawsuit.