Uterine Artery Embolization in Patients with a Large Fibroid Burden: Long-Term Clinical and MR Follow-up

Journal Article · Fri Oct 15 04:00:00 EDT 2010 · Cardiovascular and Interventional Radiology

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1007/S00270-009-9793-2· OSTI ID:21428926

Nijenhuis, Robbert J; Rooij, Willem Jan van; Weimar, Emilie A. M. ^[1]; Boekkooi, Peter F ^[2]; Lampmann, Leo E. H. ^[1]; Vervest, Harry A. M. ^[2]; Lohle, Paul N. M. ^[1]

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1. St. Elisabeth Ziekenhuis, Department of Radiology (Netherlands)
2. St. Elisabeth Ziekenhuis, Department of Gynaecology (Netherlands)

Uterine artery embolization (UAE) in patients with a large fibroid burden is controversial. Anecdotal reports describe serious complications and limited clinical results. We report the long-term clinical and magnetic resonance (MR) results in a large series of women with a dominant fibroid of >10 cm and/or an uterine volume of >700 cm{sup 3}. Seventy-one consecutive patients (mean age, 42.5 years; median, 40 years; range, 25-52 years) with a large fibroid burden were treated by UAE between August 2000 and April 2005. Volume reduction and infarction rate of dominant fibroid and uterus were assessed by comparing the baseline and latest follow-up MRIs. Patients were clinically followed at various time intervals after UAE with standardized questionnaires. There were no serious complications of UAE. During a mean follow-up of 48 months (median, 59 months; range, 6-106 months), 10 of 71 patients (14%) had a hysterectomy. Mean volume reduction of the fibroid and uterus was 44 and 43%. Mean infarction rate of the fibroid and overall fibroid infarction rate was 86 and 87%. In the vast majority of patients there was a substantial improvement of symptoms. Clinical results were similar in patients with a dominant fibroid >10 cm and in patients with large uterine volumes by diffuse fibroid disease. In conclusion, our results indicate that the risk of serious complications after UAE in patients with a large fibroid burden is not increased. Moreover, clinical long-term results are as good as in other patients who are treated with UAE. Therefore, a large fibroid burden should not be considered a contraindication for UAE.

• OSTI ID: 21428926
• Journal Information: Cardiovascular and Interventional Radiology, Journal Name: Cardiovascular and Interventional Radiology Journal Issue: 5 Vol. 33; ISSN 0174-1551; ISSN CAIRDG
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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62 RADIOLOGY AND NUCLEAR MEDICINE
ARTERIES
BLOOD VESSELS
BODY
CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEM
DIAGNOSTIC TECHNIQUES
EMBOLI
FEMALE GENITALS
MAGNETIC RESONANCE
NMR IMAGING
ORGANS
RESONANCE
UTERUS