FDA Recommends Further Limiting Use Of Laparoscopic Power Morcellation

The US FDA is updating its labeling guidance on laparoscopic power morcellation to reflect new evidence showing the treatment may pose a higher cancer risk in older women, as well as to add discussion of containment systems.

Olympus Bag Morcellator
Contained tissue extraction system from Olympus America. New FDA guidance recommends the use of containment systems during all uterine power morcellation. • Source: Olympus America

Laparoscopic power morcellation to remove uterine fibroids should only be performed with the use of a compatible containment system, and only on women younger than 50, the US Food and Drug Administration said in a safety communication and draft guidance document issued on 25 February.

Uterine fibroids often include cancerous tissue that cannot be detected prior to removal, and morcellation may spread those malignancies further...

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