According to a rising number of lawsuits, patients who undergo morcellation surgeries like a hysterectomy may be at risk of uterine cancer from morcellation.

Power morcellation is a practice often used in the performance of morcellator hysterectomy surgeries, and was first approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 1991.

Since power morcellation began, it has grown in popularity, and become increasingly more common in the years since its approval. In recent years, this practice has been linked with an increased risk of spreading uterine cancer from morcellation.

Power morcellation during a hysterectomy or myomectomy is considered a minimally invasive procedure. Surgeons use a morcellator to cut unwanted uterine tissue into smaller pieces, which makes them easier to remove.

However, reports suggest that the very procedure that allows uterine tissue to be cut into tiny pieces for removal may also make it easier for cancer to spread in a person with undetected uterine cancer.

However, reports suggest a link between morcellator hysterectomy surgery and the increased spread of uterine cancer. Uterine cancer from morcellation can occur when a morcellator cuts up undetected uterine cancer cells in the process, which allows these fibroids to spread more rapidly through the body.

Patients at risk of spreading uterine cancer from morcellation are only those who already have cancer. It is important to recognize that there is no evidence to suggest that morcellator surgery could itself actually cause cancer.

Rather, patients who have undetected or malignant cancer may unwittingly give that cancer a jumpstart, spreading the cancerous fibroids throughout the body, and becoming significantly more dangerous.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is aware of the reports of these risks, and in April 2014, the agency released a safety alert about uterine cancer from morcellation.

The statement warns that power morcellation can spread cancer cells thus far undetected by a doctor, which can place patients at a much more severe risk.

According to the FDA, around 1 in 350 women who undergo power morcellation surgery may have this undetected uterine cancer.

Power morcellation also brings risks for those who do not suffer from uterine cancer from morcellation. Other side effects include the spread of noncancerous fibroids that cause prolonged menstrual bleeding or pelvic pain.

Lawsuits Over Uterine Cancer from Morcellation

A growing number of women who have been diagnosed with uterine cancer from morcellation surgery claim that their cancer growth would not have been so rapid, and therefore so dangerous, had a power morcellator not been used in the surgery.

Lawsuits claim that plaintiffs injured by power morcellation would not have agreed to the procedure if they had been properly warned of the risks for those with undetected uterine cancer.

Plaintiffs claim that, had they been warned of the risks, they would have instead chosen an alternative method of surgery, thus avoiding the rapid spread of uterine cancer from morcellation.

Power morcellator lawsuits claim that morcellator manufacturers, including Ethicon, either knew or should have known about this serious and even life-threatening risk associated with their device.

If you or someone you love has been diagnosed with uterine cancer from morcellation, you may be able to file a morcellation lawsuit.