title: Uterine artery embolization for adenomyosis without fibroids.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the potential usefulness of transcatheter uterine artery embolization as a treatment for symptomatic adenomyosis in patients without uterine fibroids.
  
  
  METHODS
  Uterine artery embolization using polyvinyl alcohol particles sized 250-710 mm was performed in 43 patients (mean; 40.3 years, range; 31-52 years) with dysmenorrhoea, menorrhagia, or bulk-related symptoms (pelvic heaviness, urinary frequency) due to adenomyosis without fibroids. All patients underwent pre-procedural and 3.5 months (range 1-8 months) follow-up magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with contrast enhancement. Clinical symptoms were also assessed at the time of MRI before and after embolization.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Significant improvement of dysmenorrhoea (95.2%) and menorrhagia (95.0%) was reported in most patients. Contrast-enhanced MRI revealed non-enhancing areas suggesting coagulation necrosis of adenomyosis in 31 patients (72.1%), decreased size without necrosis in 11 patients (25.6%), and no change in one patient (2.3%). The mean volume reduction of the uteri after uterine artery embolization was 32.5% (from 321.7+/-142.9 to 216.7+/-130.1 cm(3)).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Transcatheter uterine artery embolization is an effective therapy for the treatment of symptomatic pure adenomyosis, and may be a valuable alternative to hysterectomy.
authors.affiliation: Diagnostic Radiology, Bundang CHA General Hospital, Pochon CHA University, 351 Yatap-dong, Bundang-gu, Sungnam-si, Kyonggi-do, Sungnam, South Korea. mdkim@cha.ac.kr
authors.forename: M D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: J W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Won
authors.forename: D Y
authors.initials: DY
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: C-S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Ahn
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001158:Arteries; D002404:Catheterization; D004412:Dysmenorrhea / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D004621:Embolization, Therapeutic / Q000379:methods*; D004715:Endometriosis / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D008595:Menorrhagia / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014599:Uterus / Q000098:blood supply*