Uterine morcellation carries a risk of disseminating unexpected malignancy with apparent associated increase in mortality much higher than appreciated currently.
- Morcellation is done in at least 11% of the nearly 500,000 U.S. hysterectomies a year.
- The process pulverizes the uterus for easier removal, and quicker recovery.
- But in cases where undiagnosed cancer may be present, the process spreads it.
Read When a hysterectomy can be a death sentence, USA Today, /5347093/, February 18, 2014