Uterine Fibroid Embolization: A New Option to Treating Symptomatic Fibroids / 31 December, 2001

Uterine fibroids (leiomyomas) are benign tumors of the uterine muscle. According to Spectrum Medical Group’s Daniel O’Brien, MD, “Uterine fibroids form when muscle cells depart from their normal alignment and begin to grow as circular masses. Researchers estimate that one half to one third of women of childbearing age have fibroids.--Because most fibroids do not cause symptoms, the number of women with fibroids may actually be higher than this.”

Traditional Approaches to Treating Symptomatic Fibroids

For some women, large uterine fibroids can be symptomatic. Symptomatic fibroids can cause heavy menstrual bleeding, pelvic pain, pressure, pain during sexual intercourse, or urinary symptoms that include a frequent and urgent need to void or complete obstruction of the kidneys. Traditional approaches to treating symptomatic fibroids include drug therapy or surgery.

Drug therapy causes hormone stimulation. The side effects may include osteoporosis, high blood pressure, and headaches. In addition, once drug therapy is discontinued, fibroids return.

The traditional surgical approaches are hysterectomy and myomectomy. In a hysterectomy the entire uterus and all fibroids are removed. This is a major surgical procedure and the recovery time may be lengthy. A myomectomy involves the surgical removal of fibroids and leaves the uterus intact. Fibroids do not return following a hysterectomy but may return after a myomectomy.

Uterine Fibroid Embolization – A Minimally Invasive Approach

Spectrum Medical Group is pleased to now offer uterine fibroid embolization (UFE), which was introduced in 1996, as a third option for treating fibroids. UFE, a minimally invasive procedure, eliminates fibroids by blocking the supply of blood to the fibroids. Using angiographic techniques similar to those used in heart catheterization, a Spectrum interventional radiologist places a catheter into the uterine arteries. By injecting small particles into the arteries, the arteries feeding the fibroids are blocked. By cutting off the blood supply, the fibroids shrink and symptoms are resolved.

Any woman, regardless of the size and location of her fibroids, can undergo UFE for the treatment of symptomatic fibroids. As the outcome of pregnancy following UFE is unknown, however, we do not recommend the procedure for women who plan to have children.

UFE Results

The expected average reduction in the volume of fibroids is 50% in three months, with reduction in the overall uterine volume of 35%. This reduction may be greater in some patients and less in others. Bleeding symptoms usually resolve immediately. Complications are experienced in less than 3% of patients. Possible complications include injury to the uterus from decreased blood supply or infection. Hysterectomy to correct either of these complications occurs in less than 1% of women.

“We meet with every patient before scheduling a procedure,” states Thomas Dykes, MD. “We spend a lot of time reviewing the patient’s symptoms, discussing what the procedure is like, risks and benefits. Once a woman has information about all of the options available to her, she, together with her physician, can decide which course of treatment is best for her.” Learn more about UFE.