Peritoneal seeding of embolic beads after uterine artery embolization

BACKGROUND: Incidental identification of peritoneal nodules during laparoscopy may present a diagnostic dilemma. The differential diagnosis includes a variety of benign and malignant entities such as peritoneal carcinomatosis. CASE: A 44-year-old G2P2 woman presented with recurrent menorrhagia and pelvic pain was found to have large uterine fibroids on imaging studies. Bilateral uterine artery embolization was performed with complete devascularization of the fibroid. Seven years later, she presented with similar symptoms. Imaging studies demonstrated a vascular uterine lesion. A total laparoscopic hysterectomy with bilateral salpingectomy was performed with no complications. During surgery, vesicular peritoneal implants were incidentally identified posterior to the uterus between the uterosacral ligaments. Biopsy and pathologic analysis of these nodules confirmed that they contained foreign material consistent with embolization beads. Pathologic analysis of the uterus demonstrated an intramural uterine fibroid, and presence of embolization beads in cervix, myometrium and bilateral peritubal regions. CONCLUSION: Non-target peritoneal implantation of embolic beads after uterine artery embolization is a rare entity that can result in vesicular appearing nodules.