MR-guided focused ultrasound offers women another minimally invasive treatment to remove uterine fibroids-avoiding surgical myomectomy and hysterectomy
There's a new interventional radiology tool showing promise in the treatment of uterine fibroids: magnetic resonance-guided focused ultrasound (MRgFUS), a minimally invasive treatment that uses high-energy ultrasound waves to generate heat at a specific point to destroy uterine fibroid tissue and relieve symptoms. A study of more than 100 patients shows that women can get lasting relief from uterine fibroid-related symptoms with MRgFUS-thus avoiding myomectomy, the surgical removal of uterine fibroids, or hysterectomy, major abdominal surgery to remove the uterus, say researchers at the Society of Interventional Radiology's 35th Annual Scientific Meeting in Tampa, Fla.
"Our 119-patient study shows that magnetic resonance-guided focused ultrasound is highly effective and can provide lasting relief from uterine fibroid-related symptoms," said Gina Hesley, M.D., Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn. In the 12 months following MRgFUS treatment, 97 percent of the women reported improvement of their symptoms, with 90 percent of women rating their improvement as either considerable or excellent. "MRgFUS is newer than another interventional radiology fibroid treatment-uterine fibroid embolization or UFE-a widely available treatment that blocks blood flow to fibroid tumors. Our results with effectiveness of MRgFUS technology are promising and comparable with that of UFE, but its longer-term effectiveness needs continued study," said Hesley. "Today, women have interventional radiology options that do not involve the use of a scalpel incision. Women should ask for a consult with an interventional radiologist who can determine from MR imaging whether they are candidates for either procedure," she added.
Uterine fibroids are very common noncancerous (benign) growths that develop in the muscular wall of the uterus. They can cause prolonged, heavy menstrual bleeding that can be severe enough to cause anemia or require transfusion, disabling pelvic pain and pressure, urinary frequency, pain during intercourse, miscarriage, interference with fertility and an abnormally large uterus resembling pregnancy. Twenty to 40 percent of women age 35 and older have uterine fibroids of a significant size. African-American women are at a higher risk for fibroids: as many as 50 percent have fibroids of a significant size.