Confused about fibroids...

and having much luck in getting answers.



I recently had an MRI (following an u/s which showed the presence of fibroids which were big enough and plentiful enough to prevent the ovaries from being seen). I have the results and my doctor is referring me to a specialist.

What I don't really understand is how the fibroids are measured. My largest one is 7.0cm in AP, 6.1 cm in transverse, and 7.3 cm in craniocaudal. I'm assuming these are basically height, width, and depth. However, it also says that mean volume is 162cc. If you calculate volume the "normal" way (HxWxD), I get just over 300cc, not 162cc.

When people say that they have a "5cm fibroid" (or whatever size), to what number are they referring? Or when they say a "14 week" fibroid? I'm assuming that is referring to the average size of a 14 week fetus?

I'm just trying to get some research done, about the extent of my fibroids, before I see the OP/GYN, so I don't go in unprepared. My family doctor (who I love), is fairly certain that the surgery route is the route I'll be going, since there are a fair number of fibroids and they are symptomatic (didn't realise that my periods weren't "normal" until I started discussing them with her). It is difficult to read other people's stories, when I cannot compare my situation to theirs.

Thanks

I can understand the need to know! Unfortunately, I've only had ultrasound which leaves me with information like "right fundal pendunculated 6 cm fibroid" and I think many ladies here get the same which is why you see so many references to things like "10 cm fibroid"
Hang in there-your doctor should be prepared to answer these questions for you and hopefully another sister who has had MRI will step in with more information for you.
Let us know what you learn!

As I read your email, the average volume is 162cc. Since you have numerous fibroids (me too!), some will be quite small, most will be "medium" and one or two may be in the 300cc range. So, all together, they average out to 162cc per fibroid.

I was given a total uterine size, in addition to the size of a couple of the fibroids. However, most things I was reading referred to "gestational size" (uterus + fetus). I finally just asked my doctor what thought the size of my uterus was (started at equivalent to nearly 5 months pregnancy - ugh) since I couldn't easily find a reference correlating uterine dimensions with gestational age.

Also like you, I didn't realize my changing periods reflected fibroids. I thought it was all the fun of going through peri-menopause! I started having trouble urinating, then one day felt a mass in my lower abdomen. Uh-Oh! The irony was that I hadn't been going to a gynecologist regularly because I felt the last two hadn't given me very thorough exams and I wanted to find a new doc!

All the best to you.

Thanks for the replies.

The mean volume thing totally confused me since it is specifically referring to my biggest fibroid (I also have "mean" volumes for some of the smaller ones).

It is weird how you just think things are "normal" since they are "normal" for you. I didn't even notice changes or that my period was particularly heavy, until I spoke with my doctor.

Gotcha! I misunderstood your first message.

The best I can figure is that the fibroids are irregular in size. A 7cmX6cm cylinder would be just under 200cc in volume; a 7cm wide sphere would have a volume of 180cc. Something similar to these structures, but "lumpy" would have a volume different from these numbers. It may also speak to the inherent difficulties in getting precise measurements with imaging techniques.

Did you get a total uterine volume? This figure will play heavily on any decisions you make.

The other comparison I have heard is "uterus the size of a baseball/soccerball/etc" or "uterus the size of a orange/grapefruit/cantaloupe/etc".

I hear what you are saying about "normal"!