33 women had their uterus removed unnecessarily

33 women have had their uteruses removed unnecessarily, the University Hospital in Uppsala announces.
– We deeply regret what happened, says Johan Lundegård, chief physician at the hospital in a press release.

During 2023 and 2024, 33 women have had their uteruses removed unnecessarily, the University Hospital in Uppsala announces in a press release.

It must have happened in connection with the women being told about cell changes and surgery recommended. It then turned out that the diagnoses were incorrect, and that no operations were needed.

– We deeply regret what happened. Removing the uterus is a major operation, with major and irreversible consequences. It shouldn’t be able to happen, and yet it did and we apologize to the women affected by this. They have our full support, says Johan Lundegård, chief physician at Akademiska Sjukhuset in the press release.

Will be offered return visits

The women concerned are aged 38–85 years and had been diagnosed with EIN, which is a precursor to cervical cancer. The recommended treatment upon diagnosis is to surgically remove the uterus and, in many cases, parts of the ovaries.

Those who have received incorrect diagnoses have been contacted by phone and letter, and will be offered return visits and information about opportunities to seek financial compensation.

Preparing the Lex Maria notification

The academic hospital itself took the initiative for the review, after the women’s health service discovered an unexplained increase in EIN diagnoses. According to the review, systematic overdiagnosis has occurred.

– We understand that this causes concern not only for the affected patients, but also for others who have previously been diagnosed with EIN and wonder if the same thing may have happened to them, that they were operated on the wrong grounds. They are welcome to contact us with their questions, says Gudlaug Sverrisdottir, director of operations for women’s health care in the press release.

The hospital is preparing a Lex Maria report about the incident. Measures have also been taken to ensure that similar errors do not occur.