Contains Nonbinding Recommendations

Product Labeling for Laparoscopic 

Power Morcellators

Guidance for Industry and

Food and Drug Administration Staff

Document issued on December 30, 2020.

The draft of this document was issued on February 26, 2020.

This guidance supersedes “Immediately in Effect Guidance Document: 

Product Labeling for Laparoscopic Power Morcellators,” issued on November 

25, 2014.

For questions about this document, contact OHT3: Office of Gastro-Renal, ObGyn, General 

Hospital, and Urology Devices/DHT3B: Division of Reproductive, Gynecology, and Urology 

Devices for gynecologic indications at (301) 796-7030 or OHT4: Office of Surgical and 

Infection Control Devices/DHT4A: Division of General Surgery Devices for general surgical 

indications at (301) 796-6970.

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

Food and Drug Administration

Center for Devices and Radiological Health
Contains Nonbinding Recommendations

Preface

Public Comment

You may submit electronic comments and suggestions at any time for Agency consideration to 

https://www.regulations.gov. Submit written comments to the Dockets Management Staff, Food 

and Drug Administration, 5630 Fishers Lane, Room 1061, (HFA-305), Rockville, MD 20852. 

Identify all comments with the docket number FDA-2014-D-1804. Comments may not be acted 

upon by the Agency until the document is next revised or updated.

Additional Copies

Additional copies are available from the Internet. You may also send an email request to CDRHGuidance@fda.hhs.gov to receive a copy of the guidance. Please include the document number 

1400052 and complete title of the guidance in the request.
Contains Nonbinding Recommendations

1

Product Labeling for Laparoscopic 

Power Morcellators

Guidance for Industry and

Food and Drug Administration Staff

This guidance represents the current thinking of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA or 

Agency) on this topic. It does not establish any rights for any person and is not binding on

FDA or the public. You can use an alternative approach if it satisfies the requirements of the 

applicable statutes and regulations. To discuss an alternative approach, contact the FDA staff 

or Office responsible for this guidance as listed on the title page.

I. Introduction

This guidance contains recommendations concerning the content and format for certain labeling 

information for laparoscopic power morcellators (LPMs).1 The recommendations in this

guidance reflect the state of the science and available technology regarding use of LPMs and are

being made in light of scientific information that suggests that the use of these devices 

contributes to the dissemination and upstaging2 of an occult uterine malignancy in women 

undergoing laparoscopic gynecologic surgery for presumed fibroids. FDA is also recommending 

that manufacturers incorporate into the labeling for these devices information providing greater 

specificity regarding the risk of use as it relates to age, information regarding the risk of 

spreading malignant and benign uterine tissue, and information regarding the use of LPM

containment systems. These labeling recommendations are intended to enhance, but not replace,

the physician-patient discussion of the benefits and risks of use of LPMs that uniquely pertain to 

individual patients. FDA believes this effort will promote the safe and effective use of LPMs 

when used for gynecologic surgeries.

FDA’s guidance documents, including this guidance, do not establish legally enforceable 

responsibilities. Instead, guidances describe the Agency’s current thinking on a topic and should 

be viewed only as recommendations, unless specific regulatory or statutory requirements are 

cited. The use of the word should in Agency guidance means that something is suggested or 

recommended, but not required. 

 

1 This guidance uses the term “laparoscopic power morcellators” or “LPMs” in lieu of laparoscopic electromechanical 

morcellators. FDA believes this terminology is understood and recognized both by clinicians and non-clinicians (e.g., American 

College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists Special Report: Power Morcellation and Occult Malignancy in Gynecologic Surgery 

May 2014, available at: https://www.sgo.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/ACOG_Statement.pdf and Society of Gynecologic 

Oncology Position Statement: Morcellation December 2013, available at: https://www.sgo.org/resources/morcellation/).

2 A cancer’s stage is a reflection of the extent and/or severity of the disease and helps in determining the prognosis and 

appropriate treatment options. “Upstaging” refers to an increase in the extent or severity of the disease in a given patient, in this 

case due to the iatrogenic spread and growth of tumor within the peritoneal cavity.
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II. Background

As the number of laparoscopic and minimally invasive procedures has increased with the 

introduction of new surgical technologies and techniques, additional safety information has 

become available regarding the use of LPMs. Discussions within the patient and clinical 

communities, as well as the peer-reviewed medical literature, have raised awareness of the risk 

of spreading unsuspected cancerous tissue beyond the uterus when LPMs are used during 

gynecologic surgeries intended to treat benign fibroids. Numerous case reports and case series 

have been published, and FDA has received Medical Device Reports (MDRs) that describe the 

iatrogenic dissemination, implantation, and subsequent growth of unsuspected neoplastic tissue 

within the peritoneal cavity following laparoscopic morcellation of uterine tissue believed to 

contain fibroids based on pre-operative diagnosis.

3, 4, 5

In 2014, FDA presented an analysis of 

available information suggesting that the risk of an occult uterine sarcoma in a woman 

undergoing surgical intervention for presumed fibroids is substantially higher than had 

previously been assumed or reported.5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 FDA’s analysis also suggested that

 

3 Oduyebo T, Rauh-Hain A, Meserve E, Seidmen M, Hinchcliff E, George S, Quade B, Nucci M, Del Carmen M, Muto M. The 

value of re-exploration in patients with inadvertently morcellated uterine sarcoma. Gynecol Oncol. 2014;132(2):360-365.

4 Einstein M, Barakat R, Chi D, Sonoda Y, Alektiar K, Hensley M, Abu-Rustum N. Management of uterine malignancy found 

incidentally after supracervical hysterectomy or uterine morcellation for presumed benign disease. Int J Gyn Cancer 

2008;18:1065-1070.

5 Seidman MA, Oduyebo T, Muto MG, et al. Peritoneal dissemination complicating morcellation of uterine mesenchymal 

neoplasms. PLoS One. 2012;7(11):e50058.

6 For a summary of FDA’s analysis, see pg. 18-24 of the FDA Executive Summary from the July 10-11, 2014 Meeting of FDA’s 

Obstetrics and Gynecology Devices Panel of the Medical Devices Advisory Committee available at: https://wayback.archiveit.org/7993/20170405192706/https://www.fda.gov/downloads/AdvisoryCommittees/CommitteesMeetingMaterials/MedicalDevic

es/MedicalDevicesAdvisoryCommittee/ObstetricsandGynecologyDevices/UCM404148.pdf. 

7 Leibsohn S, d’Ablaing G, Mishell DR, Schlaerth JB. Leiomyosarcoma in a series of hysterectomies performed for presumed 

uterine leiomyomas. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 1990;162(4):968-974.

8 Reiter RC, Wagner PL, Gambone JC. Routine hysterectomy for larger asymptomatic uterine leiomyomata – a reappraisal. 

Obstet Gynecol. 1992;79(4):481-484.

9 Parker WH, Fu YS, Berek JS. Uterine sarcoma in patients operated on for presumed leiomyoma and rapidly growing 

leiomyoma. Obstet Gynecol. 1994;83(3):414-418.

10 Takamizawa S, Minakami H, Usui R, Noguchi S, Ohwada M, Suzuki M, et al. Risk of complications and uterine malignancies 

in women undergoing hysterectomy for presumed benign leiomyomas. GynecolObstetInvest. 1999;48(3):193-196.

11 Sinha R. Hegde A, Mahajan C, et al. Laparoscopic myomectomy: do size, number, and location of the myomas form limiting 

factors for laparoscopic myomectomy? J Minim Invasive Gynecol. 2008;15(3):292-300.

12 Kamikabeya TS, Etchebehere RM, Nomelini RS, Murta EF. Gynecological malignant neoplasias diagnosed after hysterectomy 

performed for leiomyoma in a university hospital. European journal of gynaecological oncology. 2010;31(6):651-653.

13 Rowland M, Lesnock J, Edwards R, Richard S, Zorn K, Sukumvanich P, et al. Occult uterine cancer in patients undergoing 

laparoscopic hysterectomy with morcellation. Gynecol Oncol. 2012;127(1):S29.

14 Leung F, Terzibackian JJ. “The impact of tumor morcellation during surgery on the prognosis of patients with apparently early

uterine leiomyosarcoma.” Gynecol Oncol. 2012;124(1):172-173.
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patient outcomes, including survival, may be significantly adversely impacted from this 

upstaging of disease.3, 5, 15, 16, 17, 18

Patient selection and choice of surgical technique can reduce the risk of spreading cancer. While 

unsuspected cancer can occur at any age, the prevalence of unsuspected cancer in women 

undergoing hysterectomy for fibroids increases with age such that the benefit-risk profile of 

using LPMs is worse in older women when compared to younger women.19, 20 Also, the surgical 

technique of en bloc tissue removal eliminates the need to perform morcellation, thereby 

reducing the risk of iatrogenic dissemination and upstaging of an occult sarcoma. A thorough 

pre-operative screening should be conducted; however, it is important to note that no screening 

procedure that can reliably detect sarcoma preoperatively has been identified. As part of shared 

decision-making, physicians should discuss the risks and benefits of all relevant treatment 

options with their patients prior to undergoing the procedure.

FDA considered the scientific information outlined above to represent a significant change to the 

benefit-risk profile for these devices, prompting the issuance of a Safety Communication on 

April 17, 201421 and the convening of the FDA’s Obstetrics and Gynecology Devices Panel of 

the Medical Devices Advisory Committee22 on July 10-11, 201423 to further discuss the use and 

labeling of LPMs during gynecologic surgeries. FDA issued an immediately in effect guidance 

document after considering the input of the Panel and other stakeholders, including comments 

made during the Open Public Hearing portion of the Panel meeting.

Following issuance of the 2014 guidance document, FDA continued to consider new scientific 

information and the input of stakeholders. FDA provided an updated analysis in 201724

considering new information that became available since the first analysis was performed. The 

publications referenced in the updated analysis continue to provide evidence for differences in 

 

15 Morice P, Rodriguez A, Rey A, Pautier P, Atallah D, Genestie C, Pomel C, Lhommé C, Haie-Meder C, Duvillard P, Castaigne 

D. Prognostic value of initial surgical procedure for patients with uterine sarcoma: Analysis of 123 patients. Euro Journal of 

Gynaecological Oncology. 2003;24:3-4:237-240.

16 Park J, Park S, Kim D, Kim J, Kim Y, Kim Y, Nam J. The impact of tumor morcellation during surgery on the prognosis of 

patients with apparently early uterine leiomyosarcoma. Gynecol Oncol. 2011;122(2):255-259.

17 Park JY, Kim D, Km J, Kim Y, Kim J, Nam J. The impact of tumor morcellation during surgery on the outcomes of patients 

with apparently early low grade endometrial stromal sarcoma. Ann Surg Oncol. 2011;18(12):3453-3461.

18 George S, Barysauskas C, Serrano C. Retrospective cohort study evaluating the impact of intraperitoneal morcellation on 

outcomes of localized uterine leiomyosarcoma. Cancer. 2014;120(20):3154-3158.

19 Wright JD, Tergas AI, Burke WM et al. Uterine pathology in women undergoing minimally invasive hysterectomy using 

morcellation. JAMA 2014;312(12):1253-1255 (and Supplementary Online Content).

20 See the Panel Transcripts from the July 10-11, 2014 Meeting of FDA’s Obstetrics and Gynecology Devices Panel of the 

Medical Devices Advisory Committee available at: https://wayback.archive-it.org/7993/20170405192706/https:/

www.fda.gov/AdvisoryCommittees/CommitteesMeetingMaterials/MedicalDevices/MedicalDevicesAdvisoryCommittee/Obstetri

csandGynecologyDevices/ucm404143.htm.

21 http://wayback.archive-it.org/7993/20170722043342/https:/www.fda.gov/MedicalDevices/Safety/AlertsandNotices/

ucm393576.htm. This Safety Communication was updated on November 24, 2014 (https://wayback.archiveit.org/7993/20170404182209/https://www.fda.gov/MedicalDevices/Safety/AlertsandNotices/ucm424443.htm).

22 https://www.fda.gov/advisory-committees/medical-devices-advisory-committee/obstetrics-and-gynecology-devices-panel.

23 The materials from this meeting are available at: https://wayback.archive-it.org/7993/20170405192706/https:/www.fda.gov/

AdvisoryCommittees/CommitteesMeetingMaterials/MedicalDevices/MedicalDevicesAdvisoryCommittee/ObstetricsandGynecol

ogyDevices/ucm404143.htm.

24 “FDA Updated Assessment of The Use of Laparoscopic Power Morcellators to Treat Uterine Fibroids,” available at: 

https://www.fda.gov/media/109018/download.
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patient outcomes between groups, including among groups exposed to power morcellation, nonpowered morcellation or no morcellation. Further, additional scientific information is available 

that stratifies the risks of an undetected uterine cancer in women with presumed fibroids based 

on age.25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

FDA also considered scientific information pertaining to the risk of spreading benign uterine 

tissue beyond the uterus during gynecologic surgeries when LPMs are used.

31, 32, 33 Parasitic 

myomas and disseminated peritoneal leiomyomatosis, while benign, have been associated with 

the need for additional surgery due to symptoms such as abdominal pain and distension. It is 

important to note that a containment system cannot prevent all cases of benign tissue spread 

during such procedures as some cases may occur spontaneously without morcellation.

Finally, FDA considered additional available mitigations for the spread of uterine tissue. Since 

2014, FDA has provided marketing authorization for LPM containment systems intended to 

isolate and contain tissue that is considered benign. These products have been shown, through 

bench testing and simulated use testing, to contain such tissue during morcellation.

34 A 

containment system, however, cannot prevent against the potential spread of cancer that might 

result from: 

· Tissue that spreads due to manipulation of the tissue before it is placed into the tissue 

containment system; or

· Cancer that may have already spread through the blood, lymphatic system or fallopian 

tubes (transtubal transport) before the surgical procedure.

For these reasons, FDA is updating its recommendations, as originally described in the 2014 

guidance document, concerning the content and format of certain labeling information for LPMs. 

Specifically, FDA is recommending that manufacturers incorporate into the labeling for these 

devices information providing greater specificity regarding the risk of use as it relates to age,

information regarding the risk of spreading benign uterine tissue, and information regarding the 

use of LPM containment systems. 

 

25 Raine-Bennett T, Tucker L, Zaritsky E et al. Occult uterine sarcoma and leiomyosarcoma. Incidence of and survival associated 

with morcellation. Obstet Gynecol. 2016;127(1):29-39.

26 Mahnert N, Morgan D, Campbell D et al. Unexpected gynecologic malignancy diagnosed after hysterectomy performed for 

benign indications. Obstet Gynecol 2015;135(2):397-405.

27 Zhang J, Li, T, Zhang J et al. Clinical characteristics and prognosis of unexpected uterine sarcoma after hysterectomy for 

presumed myoma with and without transvaginal scalpel morcellation. Int J Gyn Cancer, 2016;26(3):456-463.

28 Mao, J, Pfeifer, S, Zheng, X et al. Population-based estimates of the prevalence of uterine sarcoma among patients with 

leiomyomata undergoing surgical treatment. JAMA Surgery, 2015;150(4):368-370.

29 Rodriguez, A, Asogly M, Sak M, et al. Incidence of occult leiomyosarcoma in presumed morcellation cases: a database study.

European J Obstet & Gyn and Reprod Biology, 2016;197:31-35.

30 Singh S, Scott S, Bougie O et al. Technical update on tissue morcellation during gynaecologic surgery: its uses, complications, 

and risks of unsuspected malignancy. Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Canada, 2015;37(1):68-78.

31 Lete I, Gonzalez J, Ugarte L, Barbadillo N, Lapuente O, & Alvarez-Sala J. Parasitic leiomyomas: a systematic review. 

European Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology and Reproductive Biology. 2016;203:250-259.

32 Tan-Kim J, Hartzell KA, Reinsch CS, et al. Uterine sarcomas and parasitic myomas after laparoscopic hysterectomy with 

power morcellation. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2015;212:594.e1-10.

33 Van der Meulen JF, Pijnenborg JMA, Boonuma CM, Verberg MFG, Geomini PMAJ, Bongers MY. Parasitic myoma after

laparoscopic morcellation: a systematic review of the literature. BJOG. 2016;123:69-75.

34 These devices are classified under 21 CFR 884.4050 (Gynecologic laparoscopic power morcellation containment system).
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III. Scope

This guidance provides recommendations concerning the content and format of certain labeling 

information for LPMs used for gynecologic surgeries. LPMs may include general indications for 

use (e.g., laparoscopic procedures) or specific indications for use (e.g., laparoscopic gynecologic 

procedures). This guidance applies to LPMs with either a general indication or a specific 

gynecologic indication, as either may be used in gynecologic laparoscopic procedures. This 

guidance applies to LPMs regardless of morcellation mechanism (e.g., electromechanical, 

radiofrequency).

This guidance does not apply to LPMs specifically indicated only for non-gynecologic surgery. It 

also does not apply to hysteroscopic morcellators, which have a different principle of operation.

FDA believes that, when used in accordance with current indications and instructions for use, 

hysteroscopic morcellators do not pose the same risk as the devices addressed in this guidance 

because any sarcomatous tissue present does not enter the peritoneal cavity.

This guidance is not intended to include a complete listing of all labeling components for LPMs 

used for gynecologic surgery. Rather, this guidance contains recommendations regarding the 

inclusion of certain information in LPM labeling that FDA believes is important to the safe and 

effective use of LPMs in gynecologic surgery. Accurate product labeling for LPMs and effective 

communication of that labeling are important to help ensure that physicians and patients are 

aware of the risks associated with the use of LPMs in gynecologic surgery, including the

dissemination of malignant tissue and potential clinical outcomes associated with the 

laparoscopic morcellation of occult uterine malignancy. FDA believes that the physician and 

patient information discussed in this guidance should be included in labeling under sections 

502(a), 201(n), and 502(f)(2) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FD&C Act). FDA 

recommends that manufacturers implement the labeling recommendations discussed herein35 and 

follow them in labeling submitted with future 510(k) submissions.

IV. Labeling Components

FDA recommends that the labeling of LPMs with a general indication or a specific gynecologic 

indication include a boxed warning, contraindications, and warnings regarding the risk of use as 

it relates to age, spreading malignant and benign uterine tissue, and the use of LPM containment 

systems. This section contains FDA’s format and content recommendations for these 

components, and to help illustrate, FDA has provided examples in each subsection.

A. Boxed Warning

FDA believes that a boxed warning should be part of the labeling materials for LPMs. In general, 

boxed warnings are noticeable and easy to read and understand, and FDA believes a boxed 

warning would be particularly useful in communicating the risks that have been identified in the 

 

35 A manufacturer with an existing 510(k) clearance should: 1) add the information to their labeling; 2) submit both the current 

labeling and revised labeling to CDRH; and 3) provide updated labeling to purchasers for LPMs that have already been 

distributed. In addition, FDA does not intend to object if such labeling changes are submitted as an “add-to-file” to the existing 

510(k) rather than as a new 510(k).
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scientific information discussed above. FDA therefore recommends that a boxed warning 

generally inform physicians, and recommend that physicians share with patients, that:

· Uterine tissue may contain unsuspected cancer; and 

· The use of LPM during fibroid surgery may spread cancer and decrease the long-term 

survival rate of patients.

An example of a boxed warning that follows this recommendation is below.

B. Contraindications and Other Warnings

In addition to the boxed warning, FDA also believes that the labeling of LPMs should include 

contraindications and warnings highlighting certain key information regarding the risks of use of 

LPMs in gynecologic surgeries. We recommend the labeling for LPMs generally inform 

physicians, and recommend that physicians share with patients, that:

· LPMs are contraindicated in gynecologic surgery in which the tissue to be 

morcellated is known or suspected to contain malignancy;

· LPMs are contraindicated for removal of uterine tissue containing suspected fibroids 

in patients who are post-menopausal or over 50 years of age, or candidates for en bloc

tissue removal through the vagina or via a mini-laparotomy incision;

· The risk of occult cancer, including uterine sarcoma, increases with age, particularly 

in women over 50 years of age;

· Uncontained power morcellation has been associated with the spread of benign 

uterine tissue, i.e., parasitic myomas and disseminated peritoneal leiomyomatosis, 

potentially requiring additional surgeries; and

· LPMs should only be used with a containment system. The containment system 

should be compatible with the LPM.

Examples of labeling statements that follow these recommendations are below.

CONTRAINDICATION: Laparoscopic power morcellators are contraindicated in 

gynecologic surgery in which the tissue to be morcellated is known or suspected to 

contain malignancy.

CONTRAINDICATION: Laparoscopic power morcellators are contraindicated for 

removal of uterine tissue containing suspected fibroids in patients who are: 

· post-menopausal or over 50 years of age, or

· candidates for en bloc tissue removal through the vagina or via a mini-laparotomy 

incision.

WARNING: The risk of occult cancer, including uterine sarcoma, increases with age, 

WARNING: Uterine tissue may contain unsuspected cancer. The use of 

laparoscopic power morcellators during fibroid surgery may spread cancer 

and decrease the long-term survival of patients. This information should be 

shared with patients when considering surgery with the use of these devices.
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particularly in women over 50 years of age. This information should be shared with 

patients when considering surgery with the use of these devices.

WARNING: Uncontained power morcellation has been associated with the spread of 

benign uterine tissue, i.e., parasitic myomas and disseminated peritoneal 

leiomyomatosis, potentially requiring additional surgeries. 

WARNING: Laparoscopic power morcellators should only be used with a containment 

system. The containment system should be compatible with the laparoscopic power 

morcellator.