Jakarta, IO – Until the present, it has been difficult for lay people to differentiate between myoma and adenomyosis, solid tumors in the uterus that cause vaginal bleeding and pain that interferes with normal routines, apart from triggering fertility problems. Both myoma and adenomyosis are influenced by hormones, are prone to recurrence, and generally heal when a woman enters menopause. Both cause bleeding and sometimes patients need blood transfusions, but myoma and adenomyosis reveal fundamental differences.
So, what’s the difference?
“Myoma has clear boundaries, is localized, and has a capsule, so it is easy to operate on; the pain depends on the position and location, while adenomyosis has diffuse boundaries, is generally rooted in the uterine wall so it is difficult to excise; the pain is more intense than myoma. Another difference is that myoma can recur 3-5 years after surgery, while adenomyosis can occur 1-2 years after surgery. My team and I have operated on up to 28 myomas on one single patient,” answered dr. Relly Y. Primariawan, Sp.OG(K), from the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Fertility Division, Reproductive Endocrinology, Medicine Faculty of Airlangga University-RSUD dr. Soetomo Surabaya, East Java, in a media meeting with the theme “Focus Ultrasound Ablation (FUA), Myoma Treatment Without Surgery” at Abdi Waluyo Hospital, Jakarta, Tuesday (19/9/2023).
Risk factors for myoma include early menstruation, late menopause, family history, obesity, and not having children. Initial symptoms include vaginal discharge, frequent urination, constipation or an enlarged stomach. However, many women do not experience early symptoms.
No Symptoms
Sometimes patients also find it difficult to differentiate myomas from cysts. Myomas are in the uterus, while cysts are in the ovaries and are filled with fluid, not muscle or tissue growth. “In Indonesia, the exact date on myomas is not yet known due to differences in place, location, and facilities in hospitals, but from clinical practice in the field, cases are found in 20-25% of women of reproductive age,” said dr. Relly, specialist also obstetrics and gynecology consultant.
For those who are afraid of major surgery with incisions, you can choose FUA, which employs high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) technology. This high-intensity ultrasound therapy allows patients to undergo noninvasive or incision-free therapeutic procedures, in addition to minimizing complications and destroying pathological cells, so that recovery is more optimal. This non-invasive therapeutic technology focuses the ultrasound beam on the target area of the disease, resulting in an increase in temperature at the target point up to 60 to 100 Celsius degrees, killing tissue in the target area (myoma) without damaging any surrounding organ tissue.
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“This technology can be chosen especially for those who still want to keep their uterus. The doctor will perform real-time direct ultrasound imaging to monitor the ongoing ablation process, and enable doctors to treat the disease safely and measurably, without incisions, without bleeding, and maintaining organ structure and function. After HIFU surgery, patients should receive further treatment and live a healthy lifestyle to avoid recurrence,” he concluded.
He does not deny that the cost of HIFU surgery is relatively expensive, because patients are required to undergo Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) before and after surgery for optimal results. (est)
