FDA Issues Warning Over Common Uterine Procedure

    By Holly Lebowitz Rossi
    Published on April 17, 2014

    The FDA is warning that a procedure in which an electronically powered device is used to grind up and remove uterine growths, saying that the procedure carries a risk of inadvertently spreading an undetected cancer to other parts of the body. More from The Associated Press:

    Known as laparoscopic power morcellation, the technique is used to treat painful fibroids, either by removing the growths themselves or the entire uterus.

    The procedure was developed as a less invasive alternative to traditional surgery.

    But FDA says the procedure could actually be spreading uterine cancer to other parts of the body. The agency estimates that 1 in 350 women who undergo fibroid procedure may have an undetected cancer known as uterine sarcoma.

    Was this page helpful?