UAE effective alternative to focused ultrasound
In women who have failed focused ultrasound treatment for symptomatic uterine fibroids, uterine artery embolization (UAE) may provide significant relief, according to research presented this week at the Society of Interventional Radiology's 33rd Annual Scientific Meeting in Washington, DC.
In women who have failed focused ultrasound treatment for symptomatic uterine fibroids, uterine artery embolization (UAE) may provide significant relief, according to research presented this week at the Society of Interventional Radiology's 33rd Annual Scientific Meeting in Washington, DC.
Alisa Suzuki, MD, of Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, and colleagues studied seven patients (mean age 46.9) who experienced therapeutic failure and subsequently received UAE.
The researchers found that the patients' mean volume of leiomyomata increased by 12% after focused ultrasound treatment (from 234 cc to 282 cc). They found that the mean volume of leiomyomata decreased by 37% after UAE (from 282 cc to 179 cc) and that all seven patients experienced significant improvements in menorrhagia, bulk, and pelvic pressure.
More details on this research presentation are available online at http://www.sirmeeting. org/index.cfm?fuseaction=Locator. PreviewAbstract&AbstractID=142&NoLayout=Yes&PopUp=Yes.