Advanced Fibroid Study; paying homage to John Sampson

Publication date: Available online 25 April 2019Source: Reproductive BioMedicine OnlineAuthor(s): John L Yovich, Philip K Rowlands, Sunthra Lingam, Mark Sillender, Shanthi SrinivasanAbstractA recent article supports our long-standing view that all intramural fibroids can cause disturbance of uterine function. This may be reflected in the symptom of menorrhagia or fertility-related issues as well as pregnancy losses at all gestational stages. However, it was disappointing that there was no reference to either the mechanism by which fibroids disturb uterine function nor to the gynaecologist who described this more than 100 years ago, namely John Sampson. In fact, Sampson's findings about the unique venous drainage mechanism from the endometrium explains how menstrual loss is contained in normal physiology, but which can be excessive when the protective “anemic” zone is disturbed. Two other, more recent pertinent observations include the hysteroscopic findings of Osamu Sugimoto who showed in the 1970’s that the endometrium overlying submucous fibroids is actually atrophic, hence the oft-cited reason of hyperplastic or excessive endometrium cannot be the cause for the associated menorrhagia. Furthermore, recent imaging techniques describe an additional “junctional zone” adjacent to the endometrium in cases of fibroids and adenomyosis. We believe this all adds up to disturbed venous drainage as described by Sampson and needs to immediately enter the educational training ...
Source: Reproductive BioMedicine Online - Category: Reproduction Medicine Source Type: research