EFFECT OF LEIOMYOMA ON MATERNAL AND FETAL OUTCOMES DURING PREGNANCY

Abstract

Aim: The study aimed to determine the effects of leiomyoma size, number, location, and type on obstetric and fetal outcomes, retrospectively.
 Materials and Method: A total of 292 singleton pregnancies, who were attended to perinatology unit of Zekai Tahir Burak Women’s Health Training and Research Hospital in Ankara as part of routine antenatal follow-up between January 2007 and 2014 and delivered at or beyond 24 weeks were included. The study group consisted of patients with leiomyoma of 4 cm or more. Patients who underwent myomectomy during cesarean delivery, who had co-morbidities, uterine anomalies, or fetal malformations were excluded from the study. Obstetric and fetal outcomes were recorded.
 Results: Vaginal delivery rate was significantly higher in patients with a single leiomyoma when compared to patients with 2 or more leiomyoma (p=0.009). Diagnosis of preterm labor was significantly higher in patients with leiomyoma size larger than 10 cm when compared to patients with leiomyoma sizes 4-7 cm and 7-10 cm (p =0.005 and p=0.002, respectively). The presentation anomaly rate was significantly higher in patients with leiomyoma sizes bigger than 10 cm when compared to patients with leiomyoma sizes 4-7 cm (p=0.008) and 7-10 cm (p =0.045). The need for transfusion was lower in the group with leiomyoma measuring 4-7 cm when compared to leiomyoma measuring 7-10 cm and those larger than 10 cm (p=0.010 and p = 0.011, respectively). Cesarean delivery rate was higher in patients with leiomyoma localized to the cervix and corpus in comparison to those localized to the corpus only (p =0.008). Vaginal delivery rate (40.9%) was higher in patients with intramural leiomyoma when compared to subserous (p=0.002) and combined (p=0.004) leiomyoma.
 Conclusion: The prevalence of leiomyoma during pregnancy is increasing due to women planning pregnancy later in life, the increasing incidence of fibroids with age, and the rise of cesarean delivery rates which enables us to diagnose more cases in recent years. Patients with leiomyoma should be placed on close surveillance for possible complications during pregnancy, delivery and postpartum.