Which myomas are located within the broad ligament?

Intraligamentous myomas, also referred to as broad ligament myomas, are muscle tumors located specifically within the broad ligament of the uterus. The broad ligament is a peritoneal fold that supports the uterus, ovaries, and fallopian tubes, and when myomas develop in this area, they can cause symptoms related to pressure on surrounding structures.

Intraligamentous myomas are often discovered incidentally during imaging studies or surgery and can sometimes lead to complications such as torsion or other vascular issues due to their location. In contrast, subserosal myomas grow on the outer surface of the uterus, submucosal myomas develop just beneath the endometrial lining, and interstitial myomas occur within the muscular wall of the uterus itself. Each type of myoma has distinct characteristics and implications for symptomatology and management, but it is the intraligamentous myomas that are clearly located within the broad ligament itself.