Thinking in context: Fibroids-to-uterine volume ratio in pre-surgical fertility evaluation for intramural fibroids

• Published in: European journal of obstetrics & gynecology and reproductive biology 2024-10, Vol.301, p.194-200
• Main Authors: Ferrari, Stefano, Salmeri, Noemi, He, Xuemin, Schimberni, Matteo, Sangiorgi, Virginia, Bartiromo, Ludovica, Tandoi, Iacopo, Pagliardini, Luca, Papaleo, Enrico, Candiani, Massimo
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Fibroids-to-uterine volume; Infertility; Myomectomy; Pregnancy; Uterine fibroids; Uterine volume
• ISSN: 0301-2115; 1872-7654; 1872-7654
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ejogrb.2024.08.024

[Display omitted] •FTUV ratio is the proportion of uterine volume occupied by intramural fibroids.•Easy-to-measure ultrasound tool in pre-surgical evaluation of intramural fibroids.•Improved pre-surgical counseling of patients who desire to conceive post-myomectomy.•FTUV ratio as potential predictor of likelihood to achieve pregnancy after surgery. To explore the utility of the total fibroids-to-uterine volume (FTUV) ratio as a simple, preoperative tool to assist in counseling patients seeking pregnancy who are undergoing myomectomy for intramural (IM) fibroids. This is an historical cohort study on reproductive-aged patients seeking pregnancy who underwent laparotomic myomectomy for intramural fibroids from January 2017 to December 2021. Only G3 to G5 fibroids, according to the 2011 International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) classification, were included. Pre-operative transvaginal ultrasound (TVUS) was performed to measure the volume of intramural myomas (diameter1*diameter2*diameter3*0.52) and to calculate their total volume. The total fibroids-to-uterine volume (FTUV) ratio was calculated as the proportion of the uterine volume occupied by the sum of IM fibroids volumes. A total of 166 women with pre-surgical TVUS evaluation of IM fibroids were included, with a mean age of 36.22 ± 5.15 years. The FTUV ratio was identified as a positive predictor of clinical pregnancy after surgery (adjOR, 1.04; 95 % CI, 1.02–1.06; p = 0.0001), whereas age showed a negative association (adjOR, 0.90; 95 % CI, 0.83–0.98; p = 0.012). Endometrial cavity distortion prior to surgery was also positively associated with pregnancy post-surgery (adjOR, 3.50; 95 % CI, 1.51–8.08; p = 0.003). Consistent results were found for live births, with the FTUV ratio being a significant positive predictor of live birth after surgery (adjOR, 1.03; 95 % CI, 1.01–1.05; p = 0.001) and age showing a negative association (adjOR, 0.88; 95 % CI, 0.80–0.96; p = 0.004). Parity prior to surgery also positively impacted live birth post-surgery (adjOR, 2.65; 95 % CI, 1.30–5.40; p = 0.007). An FTUV ratio threshold of 53.39 % accurately predicted clinical pregnancy in 68.46 % of cases (sensitivity of 71.70 % and specificity of 66.67 %). For live births, a higher FTUV ratio threshold of 59.21 % predicted outcomes accurately in 69.13 % of cases (sensitivity of 65.85 % and specificity of 70.37 %). The use of the FTUV ratio in pre-operative ultrasound evaluation of IM fibroids may improve cou