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Journal of Medical Cases

Case Report

Volume 11, Number 6, June 2020, pages 145-147

A Rare Case of Submucosal Fibroid Presented With Acute Abdomen: A Case Report

Uterine fibroids are common benign tumors in women. However, acute complications necessitating emergency surgical intervention are rare. We report a case of spontaneous rupture of feeding vessel of uterine fibroid needing emergency laparotomy.

A 30-year-old lady, nulliparous, presented to the emergency department with acute onset of lower abdominal pain for 1 day. She has medical history of hypertension and asthma. Her menstrual cycle was normal and urine pregnancy test was negative. On examination, she had diffuse tenderness in the abdomen. A bedside abdominal sonogram was performed which revealed a large amount of free fluid. She was stable and went for a computed tomography (CT) of the abdomen and pelvis which showed hemoperitoneum with source of bleeding arising from a large uterine mass that has ruptured (Fig. 1). The hemoglobin level initially was 11.6 g/dL.

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Figure 1. CT image showed hemoperitoneum with source of bleeding arising from a large uterine mass that has ruptured. CT: computed tomography.

Patient went for emergency diagnostic laparoscopy. Upon entry by laparoscopy, a 9-cm pedunculated subserosal uterine leiomyoma was found, with a ruptured feeding vessel identified at the base of the fibroid. Decision was made to convert to open myomectomy in view of the active bleeding. The leiomyoma was excised and 1.3 L of blood and blood clots were evacuated from the peritoneal cavity. The postoperative course was uneventful. Her postoperative hemoglobin level was 7 g/dL. The patient was given 1 U of packed red blood cells and iron injection. Histopathologic review of the specimen revealed a 9-cm leiomyoma with areas of infarction, hemorrhage and vascular congestion (Figs. 2, 3).

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Figure 2. Active bleeding from the vein overlying a myoma.

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Figure 3. Specimen of the excised myoma.

Uterine fibroids constitute the most common tumor in women of reproductive age. Most women with fibroids are asymptomatic. However, when clinically apparent, women usually experience heavy or prolonged menstrual bleeding or pelvic pressure. Acute complications secondary to fibroids are rare and seldom necessitate emergency surgical intervention. The complications include venous thromboembolism, acute pain secondary to degeneration or torsion of a pedunculated fibroid, acute urinary retention and subsequent renal failure [1]. It is rare for a uterine fibroid to spontaneously rupture [2].

Intraperitoneal hemorrhage from rupture fibroid is usually venous and secondary to an increase in abdominal pressure, which causes rupture of superficial veins [3]. Bleeding can also be arterial and usually associated with hypertension. Trauma causing avulsion of a fibroid, torsion of a pedunculated fibroid, and pregnancy causing venous congestion resulting in vessel rupture are other possible etiologies for intra-abdominal bleeding from a fibroid [4-6]. With regard to our case, we could not demonstrate any cause that could lead to rupture of the vessel.

Imaging modalities can aid in diagnosis of hemoperitoneum. The differential diagnosis between ascites and hemoperitoneum is sometimes not easy. Ultrasound is a helpful instrument to make a diagnosis of hemoperitoneum. CT could help the clinician to arrive at the correct diagnosis quickly. However, CT and ultrasound may not be able to delineate the origin of the bleeding [7]. Prompt emergency surgical intervention can be life-saving in situations such as the case described.

Rupture of uterine fibroid is rare, but it should be included in the differential diagnosis when encountering patient with known submucosa fibroid and acute abdomen pain. Exploratory laparotomy is both diagnostic and therapeutic in this life-threatening condition.

Acknowledgments

None to declare.

Financial Disclosure

None to declare.

Conflict of Interest

None to declare.

Informed Consent

Informed consent has been obtained from the individual included in this study.

Author Contributions

JT prepared first and subsequent drafts; MS contributed to the concept and review of all drafts; all authors discussed the findings and commented on the manuscript.

Data Availability

The authors declare that data supporting the findings of this study are available within the article.

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