A Moratorium on Morcellation? Potential Increased Cancer Risk Deserves Closer Look

The possibility of increased cancer risk after uterine morcellation due to the dispersion of fibroids is unacceptable, according to an editorial in the Lancet published in its February 2014 issue. Morcellation, a technique in minimally invasive hysterectomies, is a process by which the uterus is dissected in place in preparation for removal through a small incision. The risk is that women undergoing morcellation may have undetected cancerous fibroids, and the grinding of these can allow the cancerous cells to be dispersed throughout the body. Coverage of the issue in a December 18, 2013, Wall Street Journal indicates that the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists considers morcellation to be a low-risk procedure, although the response from other doctors ranges from offering additional information about the risks to potential candidates to calling for a moratorium on morcellation.