Assessment of Post Therapeutic Response of Uterine Artery Embolization for Treatment of Uterine Fibroids

Abstract

Background: Uterine fibroids are the most common benign gynecological tumors with an incidence rate reaching approximately 70% of women in their reproductive age and may cause serious complications in more than 50% of the patients, including vaginal bleeding, anemia, chronic pelvic pain, dyspareunia, infertility as well as secondary pressure manifestations. Uterine artery embolization (UAE) is an effective and widely used modality in managing uterine fibroids given that it is minimally invasive in managing the condition and its associated serious complications. Methods: A retrospective assessment of 41 patients who underwent UAE in a 4-year period (2016- 2020) was performed. The study evaluated the value of this new technique in the Kingdom of Bahrain, King Hamad University Hospital and included a follow up of its therapeutic response by monitoring the symptomatic status and confirmation by quantitative volumetric measurement by pre and post procedure multi parametric MRI. Results: Post-embolization MRI fibroid findings revealed an overall volume reduction rate (VRR) of 19.3% with statistically significant reduction in all outcome variables. Complete resolution of symptoms was reported by 80% of the patients. Conclusion: Uterine artery embolization is an effective treatment option for uterine fibroids. Keywords: Interventional radiology; MRI; Uterine artery embolization; Uterine fibroids; Uterine bleeding.