Elective hysterectomy: a clinicopathological review from Abha catchment area of Saudi Arabia. 
To review the major indications, types and clinicopathological features of elective hysterectomy managed in our locality.  A retrospective study of 317 consecutive patients who had elective hysterectomy performed for various indications during the study period from January 1994-December 2001,(96 months) was conducted.  The patients were divided into 3 groups: Group 1, total abdominal hysterectomy(TAH) 165 (52%); Group 2: subtotal abdominal hysterectomy(STAH) 59(18.6%) and Group 3: vaginal hysterectomy (VH),93 (28.4%).  Data extracted from the case files included age, parity, presenting symptoms and indication for hysterectomy.  Others included relevant investigation results, type of hysterectomy, and histopathological diagnosis of the specimens Abha Maternity Hospital, Abha, Saudi Arabia.  No statistically significant trend was found in the annual number of hysterectomies performed during the study period (p > 0.05).  There was statistically significant difference in the mean age in the 3 groups of patients (p < 0.05), but none in the parity (p > 0.05).  Menorrhagia and abnormal vaginal bleeding was the indication for hysterectomy in 123(38.8%) patients, followed by uterine prolapse in 91(28.7%), abdominopelvic mass, 48 (15.1%) and pelvic mass in 46 (14.8%).  Histopathology of hysterectomy specimens and appendages were reported as abnormal in 179 (56.4%), with uterine fibroids the most common pathology in 82 specimens (25.8%) followed by adenomyosis in 72 specimens(22.7%).  Uterine fibroids and adenomyosis were the most common benign conditions in hysterectomy specimens in our community with peak incidence at 41-50 years, while endometrial and ovarian cancers peaked at the same age group.  At the same time, vaginal hysterectomy was performed exclusively for utero-vaginal prolapse.