Risk of recurrence of uterine leiomyomas following laparoscopic myomectomy compared with open myomectomy

Purpose To determine whether or not the risk of recurrence of uterine leiomyoma (UL) was different between laparoscopic myomectomy (LM) and open myomectomy (OM). Methods This study combined a multicenter cohort study with a meta-analysis. The cohort study included women aged 18–44 years with 1–3 leiomyomas who underwent LM or OM for UL at one of three teaching hospitals. The meta-analysis included trials comparing recurrence rates of UL between OM and LM. Results A total of 396 patients (LM: n = 83; OM: n = 313) were recruited in the cohort study. For women aged 18–44 years with 1–3 leiomyomas, surgical approach (LM vs. OM) was not an independent risk factor of UL recurrence (31.3% vs. 34.2%, P = 0.571), and the reoperation rate of UL was similar between the LM and OM (2.4% vs. 4.2%, P = 0.726). A total of 2566 patients were meta-analyzed. The recurrence of UL was similar between LM and OM when the patients had ≤ 5 leiomyomas (OR 1.10; 95% CI 0.76–1.61; P = 0.610; I 2 = 0%), while the recurrence rate in LM group was higher when the patients had > 5 leiomyomas (OR 1.50; 95% CI 1.14–1.97; P = 0.004; I 2 = 38%). Conclusion From the meta-analysis, the recurrence rate of UL was similar between LM and OM when the patients had ≤ 5 leiomyomas, while the recurrence of LM was higher when the number of leiomyomas was > 5. The cohort study partially supported this conclusion and it further proved the reoperation rate of UL was also similar among women aged 18–44 years with ≤ 3 leiomyomas. Therefore, OM should be considered for patients with > 3 or 5 leiomyomas if myomectomy has already been chosen.