Uterine Cancer Diagnosis After Hysterectomy May Have Been Caused by Fibroid Morcellation

Harvey Kirk

By Harvey Kirk
Posted December 9, 2014

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Many women diagnosed in recent years with leiomyosarcoma, endometrial stromal sarcoma or other uterine cancer following a hysterectomy or myomectomy remain unaware that the use of power morcellators during a prior fibroid surgery may be to blame for the spread of their cancer.

Power morcellators are medical devices that have been used in more than 50,000 laparoscopic and robotic surgical procedures each year, allowing the doctors to cut up and remove the uterus or uterine fibroids through an incision in the abdomen. However, the medical community has recently come to recognize that these surgical tools pose an unreasonable risk of spreading aggressive uterine cancers throughout the body.

The product liability lawyers at Saiontz & Kirk, P.A. are reviewing potential uterine cancer lawsuits for women throughout the United States who have been diagnosed with the dissemination of leiomyosarcoma, endometrial stromal sarcoma or other cancerous tissue following a hysterectomy or myomectomy where morcellation may have been performed.

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Morcellators May Spread Uterine Cancers

Over the past decade, manufacturers have promoted power morcellators as a superior way of treating symptomatic uterine fibroids through a minimally invasive surgery, providing shorter recovery times, less scarring and reduced risk of infection or other complications.

Although these devices were promoted as safe, it has now become clear that they pose an unreasonable risk for many of women who undergo a laparoscopic hysterectomy or myomectomy.

Recent estimates suggest that 1 out of every 350 women who undergo uterine fibroid morcellation have unsuspected uterine cancer, which doctors have no way of detecting prior to the procedure. Use of a morcellator may cause this cancerous tissue that is contained within the uterus to be spread throughout the woman’s body, causing rapid uterine cancer dissemination to a stage that is extremely aggressive and hard to treat.

Manufacturers knew or should have known about the uterine cancer risks with fibroid morcellation, yet it appears that they placed their desire for profits before the safety of women by withholding information from consumers and the medical community. The first warnings were not provided until April 2014, when the FDA urged doctors to avoid use of the devices during laparoscopic hysterectomy or myomectomy procedures.

Last month, the FDA announced that “black box” warnings will be placed on power morcellators (PDF) and steps are now being taken to ensure that any women considering uterine fibroid surgery with morcellation are aware of the risk that the devices may spread cancer. However, most women who previously underwent a procedure involving use of a morcellator remain unaware that these dangerous surgical tools may have caused the progression of their uterine cancer.

Hysterectomy Morcellation Uterine Cancer Lawyers

Potential claims are now being reviewed by the uterine cancer lawyers at Saiontz & Kirk, P.A. for women throughout the United States who have been diagnosed with the dissemination of leiomyosarcoma, endometrial stromal sarcoma or other health problems that may have been caused by use of a power morcellator during:

All cases are being pursued under a contingency fee agreement, which means that there are no out-of-pocket expenses to hire our law firm and we receive no attorney fees or expenses unless a recovery is obtained. To review a potential claim for yourself, a friend or family member, request a free consultation and claim evaluation.

3 Comments • Add Your Comments

  • Ghislaine says:

    I had myomectomy done in 1992, laparoscopy done 1993, then i developed uterine cancer and an hysterectomy was done 2012.

    Posted on December 23, 2014 at 11:44 am

  • Educ8yourmind says:

    Had a hysterectomy done July 2012, was diagnosed with leiomyomatosis all over the inside both of my lungs on 9/20/13.

    Posted on January 22, 2015 at 12:39 am

  • robyn says:

    Within a year of divinci hysterectomy for fibroids, I was diagnosed with a rare gyn cancer (vulvar cancer). Apparently rare for a woman my age (51). Post excision of region, have now torn several times and cannot be corrected due to amount of scar tissue.
    Very strange how the area which only appeared for decades as a freckle…suddenly became 3 distinct freckles that when biopsied were positive. Is it possible the surgery ignited something that may have laid dormant for the rest of my life? It was actually my immediate thought when I heard the diagnosis. I feel so hopeless and alone. I cannot afford the treatments the specialist wants done, so I don’t even date.

    Posted on May 28, 2015 at 3:36 am

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