title: I. Uterine fibroid embolization: preprocedure assessment.
abstract: Increasing clinical experience with uterine fibroid embolization (UFE) has improved the ability of interventionalist radiologists to discern who is and who is not an appropriate candidate for this procedure. Initial evaluation should be directed at obtaining answers to the following key questions: (1) Does the patient have uterine fibroids that account for her symptoms and are they severe enough to require invasive treatment? (2) Does she desire future childbearing? (3) Are there any clinical indications or imaging signs of uterine malignancy? (4) Are there any medical or anatomic features that would favor a particular therapeutic modality? (5) What are her own preferences regarding treatment? Ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging are vital elements to the assessment and planning of the appropriate course of action. Given the lack of prospective comparative trials between UFE and surgical treatment, recommendations are often highly influenced by patient preference.
authors.affiliation: Vascular and Interventional Section, Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology, 510 S Kingshighway Boulevard, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA.
authors.forename: Suresh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Vedantham
authors.forename: Keith M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Sterling
authors.forename: Scott C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Goodwin
authors.forename: James B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Spies
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Shlansky-Goldberg
authors.forename: Robert L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Worthington-Kirsch
authors.forename: Robert T
authors.initials: RT
authors.lastname: Andrews
authors.forename: David M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Hovsepian
authors.forename: Steven J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: Howard B
authors.initials: HB
authors.lastname: Chrisman
mesh_terms: D004621:Embolization, Therapeutic; D005260:Female; D005298:Fertility; D006801:Humans; D007889:Leiomyoma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy*; D018810:Magnetic Resonance Angiography; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D018579:Patient Selection; D011300:Preoperative Care; D014594:Uterine Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy*