This patient’s pregnancy test was negative. After the patient emptied her bladder, there was no change in the mass. The physician thought the mass might be a common benign tumor of the uterus (fibroid). To establish the diagnosis, he obtained an ultrasound scan of the pelvis, which confirmed that the mass stemmed from the uterus.
The patient was referred to a gynecologist, and after a long discussion regarding her symptomatology, fertility, and risks, the surgeon and the patient agreed that a hysterectomy (surgical removal of the uterus) would be an appropriate course of therapy.
The patient sought a series of opinions from other gynecologists, all of whom agreed that surgery was the appropriate option.
The fibroid was removed with no complications.
A 52-year-old woman was referred to a gynecologist. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) indicated the presence of uterine fibroids. After a long discussion regarding her symptomatology, fertility, and risks, she was offered the choice between a hysterectomy (surgical removal of the uterus) or uterine artery embolization.
A uterine artery embolization is a procedure where an interventional radiologist uses a catheter to inject small particles into the uterine arteries. This reduces the blood supply to the fibroids and causes them to shrink.
The patient opted for the uterine artery embolization.
An MRI performed 6 months after the embolization procedure showed a favorable reduction in the size of the uterine fibroids (eFig. 5.89).
524.e2 524.e1
Conceptual Overview • Relationship to Other Regions
Fig. 5.10, cont’d
Fig. 5.36, cont’d
Fig. 5.45, cont’d
Fig. 5.47, cont’d
Fig. 5.59, cont’d
Table 5.4 Branches of the sacral and coccygeal plexuses (spinal segments in parentheses do not consistently participate)—cont’d
Fig. 5.63, cont’d
Fig. 5.65, cont’d
Fig. 5.76, cont’d
Surface Anatomy • How to Define the Margins of the Perineum
Surface Anatomy • Identification of Structures in the Anal Triangle
Surface Anatomy • Identification of Structures in the Urogenital Triangle of Men
Fig. 5.84, cont’d
Surface Anatomy • Identification of Structures in the Urogenital Triangle of Men
Fig. 5.85, cont’d
Posterior compartment of leg  615
Lateral compartment of leg  622
Anterior compartment of leg  624
Tarsal tunnel, retinacula, and arrangement of major structures at the ankle  642
Arches of the foot  644
Fibrous sheaths of toes  645
Avoiding the sciatic nerve  659
Finding the femoral artery in the femoral
Identifying structures around the knee  660
Visualizing the contents of the popliteal fossa  662
Finding the tarsal tunnel—the gateway to the foot  663
Identifying tendons around the ankle and in the foot  664
Finding the dorsalis pedis artery  665
Approximating the position of the plantar arterial arch  665