Abstract
Purpose: The aim of the current study was to evaluate the efficacy of uterine artery embolization (UAE) in the management of diffuse uterine leiomyomatosis with mid-term follow-up. Materials and methods: All patients who underwent UAE between 2008 and 2010 for symptomatic fibroids were analyzed. Among 360 cases, a total of 7 patients with diffuse uterine leiomyomatosis diagnosed based on MRI were included in this retrospective study. Patient ages ranged from 29 to 38 (mean 32.7) years. The median follow-up period was 16 (range; 6-31) months. The embolic agent was non-spherical polyvinyl alcohol particles. All patients underwent follow-up MRI at 3 months after UAE. Uterine volumes were calculated using MRI. Menorrhagia symptom changes were assessed at mid-term follow-up. Results: There were no technical failures to catheterize the uterine artery and no adverse events requiring therapy after UAE. Contrast-enhanced MRI showed complete necrosis of the leiomyomatous nodules in 5 patients (71%) 3 months after embolization. Two patients (28%) showed mostly leiomyomatous nodules that were necrotized, some of which were still viable. All 7 patients with menorrhagia had improvement of symptoms at the mid-term follow-up. The initial mean uterine volume was 601.30 ± 533.92 cm 3 and was decreased to a mean of 278.81 ± 202.70 cm 3 at 3 months follow-up, for a mean uterus volume reduction rate of 50.1% (p < 0.05). One patient became pregnant 5 months after UAE treatment. Conclusion: UAE was a highly effective treatment for diffuse uterine leiomyomatosis with mid-term durability and may be a valuable alternative to hysterectomy.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 2726-2729 |
Number of pages | 4 |
Journal | European Journal of Radiology |
Volume | 81 |
Issue number | 10 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 2012 Oct |
All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes
- Radiology Nuclear Medicine and imaging