Polycythemia and Uterine Myomata

To the Editor:—  Since the original description by Thomson and Marson in 1953,¹ there have been at least ten additional reports of the occurrence of polycythemia associated with uterine fibroids. All of these patients have had very large tumors; all have responded to hysterectomy with a prompt return of hematological values to normal. Various etiological factors have been postulated, including mechanical interference with pulmonary ventilation,² ectopic erythropoiesis,³ renal vascular occlusion,⁴ hypoxia of bone marrow,⁵ and the occurrence of arteriovenous shunts within the tumor.⁶ The following is a report of an additional case. This patient had a large tumor also, and her hematological values returned to normal after a hysterectomy.

Report Of a Case:—  A 38-year-old white woman was admitted to the hospital on May 17, 1966, with complaints of dizziness, headaches, palpitation of the heart, and a ruddy discoloration of the skin. Symptoms had