title: A randomized study comparing endometrial cryoablation and rollerball electroablation for treatment of dysfunctional uterine bleeding.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the effectiveness of endometrial cryoablation in comparison with rollerball electroablation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective, randomized study (Canadian Task Force classification I).
  
  
  METHODS
  Ten university and private medical centers in the United States.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two hundred seventy-nine women with menorrhagia due to benign causes.
  
  
  METHODS
  Endometrial ablation using a Her Option cryoablation device in 193 women and rollerball electroablation in 86.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Women treated by cryoablation received significantly less general anesthesia (46%) than those treated by electroablation (92%). Subjects maintained menstrual diaries for at least one cycle before and for 12 months after the procedure. Success was defined as reduction of menstrual bleeding to a score of 75 or less in the absence of retreatment. Success rates in the cryoablation and electroablation groups were 77.3% and 83.8%, respectively. Bleeding declined by 92% and 94%, respectively. Both procedures led to significant improvements in a broad range of symptoms including menses-related pain, mood, and overall improvement in quality of life.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Endometrial cryoablation is a safe and effective procedure in treatment of dysfunctional uterine bleeding. Its advantages include technical ease of performance, direct ultrasonographic view of depth of ablation, little anesthetic, and avoidance of potential complications related to distention media.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Yale University School of Medicine, 333 Cedar Street, New Haven, CT 06520, USA.
authors.forename: Antoni J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Duleba
authors.forename: Martha C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Heppard
authors.forename: Richard M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Soderstrom
authors.forename: Duane E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Townsend
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003452:Cryosurgery / Q000379:methods*; D004564:Electrocoagulation / Q000379:methods*; D004717:Endometrium / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D015907:Hysteroscopy / Q000379:methods; D008595:Menorrhagia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery; D008875:Middle Aged; D011336:Probability; D011446:Prospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014463:Ultrasonography; D014592:Uterine Hemorrhage / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*