Uterine artery embolization: sonographic imaging findings.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the sonographic and angiographic imaging findings before and after uterine fibroid embolization for symptomatic leiomyoma.


METHODS
This prospective study involved 14 premenopausal women who underwent uterine fibroid embolization for symptomatic leiomyoma. Preprocedure sonography with color Doppler imaging was performed. Bilateral uterine artery embolization was successfully performed with the use of polyvinyl alcohol. Follow-up sonographic examinations were performed between 1 and 3 months after the procedure. The correlation between the sonographic appearance before and after embolization and the degree of decrease in uterine size was evaluated by using the Jonckheere-Terpstra 2-sided P test.


RESULTS
Preprocedure sonographic imaging showed a varied appearance to the fibroids. Color Doppler imaging primarily showed the fibroids to be vascular with marked peripheral blood flow. Postprocedure sonographic imaging showed decreased uterine size and echogenicity. Color Doppler imaging showed a marked decrease in the blood flow to the leiomyoma. There was no statistical significance in the relationship between echogenicity and vascularity shown before the procedure and the percent decrease in the size of the uterus.


CONCLUSIONS
Although sonography is an efficient method for identifying leiomyomata and determining the reduction in size after uterine artery embolization, we were unable to identify any predictive characteristics of success for aiding the preprocedural assessment.
Weintraub
Joshua L
JL
New York Presbyterian Hospital, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York 10032, USA.
Romano
William J
WJ
Kirsch
Matthias J
MJ
Sampaleanu
Dana M
DM
Madrazo
Beatrice L
BL
D000328:Adult; D001158:Arteries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D004621:Embolization, Therapeutic; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007889:Leiomyoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000628:therapy; D008875:Middle Aged; D011142:Polyvinyl Alcohol / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D018615:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color; D014594:Uterine Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000628:therapy; D014599:Uterus / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging
D011142:Polyvinyl Alcohol