title: Uterine fibroid pseudocapsule studied by transmission electron microscopy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The fibroid pseudocapsule is a structure which surrounds the uterine fibroid, separates it from the uterine tissue and contains a vascular network rich in neurotransmitters like a neurovascular bundle. The authors examined the composition of the fibroid pseudocapsule using electron microscopy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty non-pregnant patients were submitted to laparoscopic myomectomy by the intracapsular method and samples of the removed pseudocapsules were analyzed using transmission electron microscopy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At the ultrastructural level the pseudocapsule cells have the features of smooth muscle cells similar to the myometrium. So, the pseudocapsules are part of the myometrium which compresses the leiomyoma.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This ultrastructural feature suggests that when removing fibroids their pseudocapsules should be preserved. This study confirms preliminary evidence that pseudocapsules contain neuropeptides together with their related fibers, as a neurovascular bundle. The surgeon's behavior should be directed to carefully control and spare this muscular surrounding tissue during fibroid excision, in order to preserve the myometrium as much as possible.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Santa Maria Hospital, Bari, Italy. antoniomalvasi@gmail.com
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Malvasi
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cavallotti
authors.forename: Manrico
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Morroni
authors.forename: Teresa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Lorenzi
authors.forename: Domenico
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Dell'Edera
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Nicolardi
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tinelli
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007889:Leiomyoma / Q000601:surgery / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D009215:Myometrium / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D011247:Pregnancy; D014594:Uterine Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery / Q000648:ultrastructure*