Uterine Fibroid Ablation: The Beginning of the End of Uterine Fibroid Embolization?

Excerpt

The principles of uterine fibroid embolization have been extensively described in the literature [1‐3]. In essence the technique involves the placement of a catheter into the uterine arteries followed by injection of embolization particles to obtain fibroid infarction and shrinkage. All the large prospective series and the first papers comparing embolization with hysterectomy in a randomized fashion now available in peer-reviewed journals confirm that embolization compares favorably with surgery [1‐7]. These results published in both the radiological and gynecologic literature report similar results in terms of efficacy (80–90% for menorrhagia, pain, and bulk-related symptoms) and complications (1–4% major of complications) [1‐7]. …