The greater number of solid neoplasms of the uterus are fibromyomata; tumors, consisting of fibrous connective tissue only—fibroids—or of muscle only-myoma—are comparatively rare. It is the preponderance of one or the other of these tissues in a tumor on which the consistency depends, and to some extent the rapidity or slowness of its growth.
The original seat of such neoplasms is, strictly speaking, interstitial; that is, the growth takes its starting-point in the parenchyma of the uterus, and subsequently grows in the direction of least resistance; thus subserous and submucous fibromyomata are formed. Real subserous tumors are freely movable, unless they become incarcerated in the true pelvis. They rarely cause symptoms, except when they attain a large size, or become incarcerated or twisted.
Interstitial tumors are of two varieties: 1, the greatest number are encapsulated and may, therefore, be readily enucleated, if the capsule be incised; 2, those which are