What Women Should Know About Power Morcellation And Cancer

Uterine cancers are on the rise - be aware of the pitfalls of some treatments

AMERICAN RECALL CENTER
By Judy Cohen
09/25/2014

September marks our calendars as National Gynecologic Cancer Awareness month. The reproductive organs are breeding grounds for several types of cancer. 

Many times, these cancers are difficult to detect. A device used in common gynecological procedures, like hysterectomy and myomectomy has been discovered to unknowingly accelerate these types of cancers. 

Johnson and Johnson, one of the largest manufacturers of laparoscopic power morcellators, have recently issued a mandatory recall of their devices.

What is Power Morcellation?

Power morcellation is a surgical gynecological procedure where a device is inserted into the body to mince tissue for extraction. 

The device looks like a tube with cutters on the end. It is inserted through a small incision in the abdomen, and then it pulls up the tissue by a grasper through the tube. Morcellators have been in surgical use for many years and have been used on other organs as well as the reproductive organs. 

In recent years, this type of procedure has become more and more popular due to the minimal scarring it leaves behind. This calls for quicker recovery times for patients. The use of these handy tools has replaced incisions and extractions by scalpel. They have been around since 1993, and around 50,000 surgeries per year involve their use in the removal of uterine fibroids.

The Issue

The problem with this device occurs when the patient has undetected cancers present in her uterus, prior to morcellation surgery. Once morcellation takes place, the cancerous tissue is unintentionally diced up and spread by the spinning wheel of the device. In April 2014, the FDA released a warning to the medical community that laparoscopic power morcellators could be dangerous.

The main concern is a cancer called leiomyosarcoma, a cancer which attaches to smooth muscle tissue. It is relatively rare, but fatal nonetheless. 

If it is not malignant, then it is called leiomyoma. When the spinning blades of the morcellator dice the tissue being surgically removed, it scatters particulates around the area. Following morcellation, approximately 64 percent of women contract other diseases. These may not be as serious as leiomyosarcoma, however, their presence constitutes a growth of possibly cancerous tissues that may or may not be operable. 

A Wall Street Journal report says that some gynecologists still use morcellators despite the FDA warning and the Johnson and Johnson recall. 

Doctors in Atlanta, New Jersey and Dallas think the device does a lot of good, although most think it could be safer. One doctor even uses a bag to catch stray bits of tissue before it can do damage. 

Women are encouraged to educate themselves regarding their own bodies, and what the possibilities are when considering uterine surgery. 

Consult your doctor and find out if s/he intends to use a morcellator in your surgery and discuss alternatives.

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