A study recently published in the journal Academic Radiology shows positive outcomes up to three years following treatment of uterine fibroids with MR-guided focused ultrasound.
In the study, 40 women with fibroids were treated with focused ultrasound. Researchers followed up with the women at three and six months, as well as one, two and three years. They found that the largest decrease in fibroid size occurred within the first six months and continued to happen over the three-year period.
A study recently published in the journal Academic Radiology shows positive outcomes up to three years following treatment of uterine fibroids with MR-guided focused ultrasound.
In the study, 40 women with fibroids were treated with focused ultrasound. Researchers followed up with the women at three and six months, as well as one, two and three years. They found that the largest decrease in fibroid size occurred within the first six months and continued to happen over the three-year period.
The researchers also found that the women had significant symptom and quality-of-life improvements during the three-year follow-up period. In addition, there were no minor or major complications related to the treatment.
In the study, 69 percent of the women saw no need for additional treatment. Nine patients did obtain additional treatment – a hysterectomy, myomectomy or uterine artery embolization (UAE or UFE). Interestingly, this retreatment rate is comparable to longterm studies on UAE, a minimally invasive procedure that blocks the blood supply to the fibroids.
