Clinicopathologic correlation of leiomyoma with clinical findings and secondary changes in a rural population of north India.

OBJECTIVES To examine the clinicopathologic profile of leiomyoma in surgically removed uteri in a rural tertiary care hospital of north India between January 2008 and August 2012. METHODS Fibroids are the most common benign tumors of reproductive-age women, with the genital tract being the most common site for tumors. The type of fibroids and secondary changes were confirmed by histopathologic examination of excised uteri. RESULTS Of the 200 patients with clinically suspected uterine fibroids, diagnosis was confirmed in 180. An intramural variant was most common (66.7%), followed by the subserosal (22.2%), submucosal (8.9%), and cervical (2.2%) varieties. Menorrhagia, abdominal mass, and abdominal pain were the most common clinical symptoms associated with intramural leiomyoma. Metrorrhagia was observed with submucosal leiomyoma. Secondary changes such as hyaline, mucoid, cystic, and fatty degeneration were also seen, most commonly in intramural leiomyoma. CONCLUSIONS This study examined the clinicopathologic profile of leiomyoma and is being presented on account of its rarity. To the best of the authors' knowledge, such a study on a rural population of North India has not been done previously. It revealed that intramural leiomyoma was the most common variant and menorrhagia was the prime clinical symptom. Secondary changes such as hyaline, mucoid, cystic, and fatty degeneration were also seen, most commonly in intramural leiomyoma.