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. 2010 Oct;33(5):943-8.
doi: 10.1007/s00270-009-9793-2. Epub 2010 Jan 12.

Uterine artery embolization in patients with a large fibroid burden: long-term clinical and MR follow-up

Albert J Smeets  1 , Robbert J Nijenhuis, Willem Jan van Rooij, Emilie A M Weimar, Peter F Boekkooi, Leo E H Lampmann, Harry A M Vervest, Paul N M Lohle
Affiliations

Uterine artery embolization in patients with a large fibroid burden: long-term clinical and MR follow-up

Albert J Smeets et al. Cardiovasc Intervent Radiol. 2010 Oct.

Abstract

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(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.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Sagittal contrast-enhanced MRI in a 31-year woman. After embolization, the fibroid is completely infarcted with a volume reduction of 60%
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Angiogram 14 months after insufficient result of first embolization in a 44-year-old woman with a large fibroid burden demonstrates a substantial additional vascular supply to the uterus from the inferior mesenteric artery, not appreciated at first embolization
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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