Study of Prolapse-Induced Cervical Elongation

Objective: The cervix often appears to be elongated in women with pelvic organ prolapse (POP). This can pose surgical challenges. MRI evidence has suggested that prolapsed cervices are significantly longer than those in normal controls. Our objective was to compare cervical length in surgical hysterectomy specimens from women with symptomatic POP with the length in specimens from women with other benign gynaecological conditions.

Methods: In this pilot, prospective, case-control study, hysterectomy specimens were collected at St. Paul's Hospital, Vancouver, BC, between 2013 and 2015. Recorded patient demographics were age at the time of hysterectomy, any prior history of cervical dysplasia, and reason for hysterectomy. Specimens from women in whom the indication for hysterectomy was POP were compared with the specimens from women with other benign gynaecological conditions. Specimens were excluded if there was a history of cervical dysplasia because we could not verify whether women had undergone previous procedures resulting in cervical shortening. After bivalving each uterus, cervical and total uterine lengths were measured by staff pathologists, and the ratios of cervical length to total uterine length were calculated. Measurements in the two hysterectomy groups were compared using linear regression.

Results: Seventy-seven specimens were collected, 52 from women with POP and 25 from women without POP. The most common indication for hysterectomy in women without POP was uterine fibroids. Women with POP were on average older than women without POP (mean 58.5 years vs. 47.8 years, P < 0.001). The ratio of cervical length to total uterine length in women with POP was 0.10 higher (95% CI 0.03, 0.16; P = 0.005) than in women without POP.

Conclusion: Women with symptomatic POP have significantly higher ratios of cervical length to total uterine length than women without POP.